Patent ID: 7021082
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. A method of making glass, said method comprising the steps of: a) forming a glass melt from starting materials in a melt apparatus, said melt apparatus comprising at least one metal part having a metal surface in contact with the glass melt in a first region of the glass melt, a predetermined oxygen partial pressure existing in said first region; b) suppressing oxygen bubble formation in the glass melt at a contacting surface between the metal surface and the glass melt; c) immersing an electrode in a second region of the glass melt not including said first region, a lower oxygen partial pressure existing in said second region of the glass melt than said predetermined oxygen partial pressure in said first region at said contacting surface, at which the oxygen bubble formation is suppressed in step b); d) electrically conductively connecting the electrode and the at least one metal part; and e) rinsing said electrode with a reducing gas or a reducing gas mixture for reducing said oxygen partial pressure in said glass melt surrounding said electrode.