Float Bath
Making optically flat glass. Molten glass enters the float bath at 1100°C flowing gently over a narrow refractory spout on to the mirror-like surface of molten tin.
The glass spreads out on the perfect flatness of the tin so the upper and lower surfaces of the glass remain absolutely flat and parallel.
The glass can be made thinner by speeding up to the top rollers which control the width of the glass, to create a gentle stretching action.
The maximum width of the ribbon is 3680mm.
A controlled atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen in the float bath prevents oxidation of the tin.