More on glass... Watch PBS documentary on the history of glass

The feature on the history of glass can be viewed online through November 5th. And in case you missed it, see our blog on art glassblowing and scientific glassblowing.  

Glass blowing at Missouri S&T. Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Deltech manufactures batch size and small production scale glass melt furnaces for operation from 1550-1800 deg C. Bottom load designs are commonly preferred because they allow rapid removal and quench of the melts. Top hat models are ideal for applications in which the glass needs to remain absolutely stable during the entire melt process, such as in the manufacture of gradient lenses. Top hat furnaces feature a fixed load platform; it is the furnace body that moves up and down.

Technician readying a pour from batch melt furnace

Deltech’s glass melt furnaces were originally developed in conjunction with Sandia Laboratories, and are often termed “workhorses” by the researchers and  manufacturers who keep them in service on a continuous basis. The ceramic lining is highly resistant to the chemical attack that comes from outgassing.