Ultrasonic Technique for Sheet Glass Structure Investigation

Vladimir Zubkov & Nadezhda Kondratieva, Testing Center of Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering

At present at production and quality control the structure of glass is estimated by indirect measures and mainly by the degree of image fault of the screen with definite pattern in transmitted or reflected light. The authors suggest absolutely new method of estimation and visualization of glass structure on its thickness at the level of structure formation. The essence of the method is that the glass is subjected to the ultrasonic impulses of no less than 10 MHz that are reflected from the structure formations with various density and are registered then.

The analyses of the results allows to conclude that the glass structure is not heterogeneous in thickness and the three main layers can be distinguished: 1.) surface zone that contacts with atmosphere at manufacture, 2.) middle zone and 3.) surface zone that contacts with tin at manufacture.

The surface zones have well- ordered formations of right oval forms connected to each other by thin elements. According to the location of surface zones and tin at manufacture the size and the form of the connectives can be different. The middle zone has less ordered formations. Their size and form depends on the operating practices of glass manufacture.

There is an opinion that the ultrasonic technique for sheet glass structure investigation can be used in all the glass plants for the estimation of quality of flat, special high- strength and optical glass and for the control of the operating practices as well.

The given technique of glass structure investigation is patented in Russia.

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