Foaming in Glass Melts Produced by Sodium Sulfate Decomposition under Isothermal Conditions

The factors controlling the behavior of foam produced in molten glass by sulfate decomposition are sulfate oversaturation (determined by the initial sulfate concentration, fraction of sulfate dissolved, and melting temperature), bubble nucleation (occurring predominantly on the residual silica grains), and film stability. The connection between the foam generation and variation in melting temperature and silica grain size has been experimentally investigated by observing the melting process in a transparent silica crucible. A generation/release model for the time variation of gas-phase volume retained in molten glass has been developed. The analysis of experimental data using this approach suggests that two forms of sulfate produce foam during melting: (1) sulfate dissolved in melt and (2) sulfate from sulfate-rich melt surrounding sand grains.