Corning Incorporated
CONTINUOUS METHODS OF FORMING GLASS RIBBON USING A GYROTRON MICROWAVE HEATING DEVICE

Abstract:

A method of forming a glass ribbon includes flowing a molten glass into a caster having a width (W.sub.cast) and a thickness (T.sub.cast) to form a cast glass, cooling the cast glass in the caster to a viscosity of 10.sup.8 Poise or more, conveying the cast glass from the caster, volumetrically heating the cast glass to an average viscosity of 10.sup.6 Poise or less using a gyrotron microwave heating device, and drawing the cast glass into a glass ribbon having a width (W.sub.gr) that is less than or equal to the width (W.sub.cast) of the caster and a thickness (T.sub.gr) that is less than the thickness (T.sub.cast) of the caster.