The effect of ZnO as a minor component on the refining of alkali-alkaline earth-silicate glassmelts

In the present work, from the viewpoint of bubble dissolution the effect of ZnO on the refining was studied in soda baria silicate glassmelts, SiO2 was replaced by ZnO up to 0.4 wt%. As a fining agent Sb2O3 was used by introducing sodium antimonate, The viscositiy and the surface tension of glassmelts were determined. Based on these properties, fining ability of several batches was examined. According to the results, the number of residual seeds after refining decreases with increase of ZnO content, These tendencies have been discussed in terms of the shrinkage of seeds and their subsequent dissolution into melts due to the increase of surface tension of glass melts.