OXIDATION AND REDUCTION OF GLASSES BY MEANS OF ELECTROLYSIS*

Abstract

A bstract The existing need for better understanding and influencing the state of oxidation of colored glasses led to an investigation of the possibilities of oxidizing or reducing a glass melt by means of electrolysis. A method was developed for the electrolytic oxidations of molten glass in which the anodic and cathodic reaction zones were separated by means of a refractory diaphragm. Low‐melting alkali‐borate and alkali‐phosphate glasses containing a minor addition of colorant were electrolyzed using voltages up to 10 volts. It was found that electrolysis could be used to lower the “gas content” of a glass as well as to produce color changes.