Protective molybdenum sheets significantly reduce costly disruptions to the production process and time-consuming repairs – something product manager Heike Larcher knows to be one of the largest cost drivers in glass production.As a result, those who use protective sheets will see a quick return on their investment.
Heike Larcher explains: “Even when melting normal glass, the high temperatures can seriously corrode the refractory bricks used to build the furnace.” And these bricks are put under even greater strain when used to manufacture opal and pharmaceutical glass, as melting these products requires much higher temperatures. Molybdenum is much more corrosion-resistant than refractory bricks to many kinds of melted glass. As a result, it can be used to protect
the bricks from corrosion in particularly vulnerable areas. This extra reinforcement enables the bricks to keep their original size and shape for longer, which in turn leads to a higher quality of glass, and a longer life for the tank.
Because the molybdenum sheets must be built into the glass-melting tank when it is cold (i.e. before it is fired up for the first time), it is important to protect against oxidation as the tank slowly heats up. For this, Plansee has developed the SIBOR® coating for molybdenum – this guarantees complete protection against oxidization during this critical warmup phase. Additional protection against corrosion is offered by a special component used to protect the vulnerable corners of the throat. Plansee has now presented this solution to the public for the first time. The protective part reduces the danger of the melted glass getting behind the molybdenum plates.