Process for reclaiming mirror cullet and production of a powdered glass

Abstract

Abrasive blasting technology is used to mechanically remove the mirror coating from mirror scrap or cullet. The blasting technology produces a cullet having a clean surface, with metal contamination levels which are hardly detectable after processing. The dust produced by the system may be processed for further use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a reusable product from a mirror cullet, comprising: 
 blasting the mirror cullet with an abrasive to remove a mirror coating from the mirror cullet.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including adjusting a blasting pressure of the abrasive.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including conveying the mirror cullet along a flat surface during said blasting step.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further including adjusting a feed rate of the mirror cullet for carrying out said conveying step.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including adjusting a blasting velocity of the abrasive.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including adjusting a size of the abrasive.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including adjusting an angle of incidence between the abrasive and the mirror cullet for carrying out said blasting step.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including containing and processing a dust created by said blasting step.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further including producing a product comprising a finely powdered soda lime glass.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further including producing a product comprising a material selected from a group of abrasive materials comprising: a fused aluminum oxide; an Alumaglass®; a silica sand; a garnet; a borosilicate glass; and a zircon sand.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , further including removing any metallic component and any reactive metal salts from the dust.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further including recovering the metallic component.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further including floating to remove any organic constituents.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for processing a mirror cullet, comprising: 
 a means for conveying a mirror cullet to minimize breakage of the mirror cullet; a blasting area for cleaning a mirror coating from the mirror cullet wherein said blasting area is connected to said conveying means.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said conveying means includes a means for positioning the mirror coating in preparation for said blasting area.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further including a means for separating a piece of the mirror cullet suitable for said blasting area from another piece of the mirror cullet not suitable for said blasting area, wherein said separating means is connected to said conveying means.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further including a means for containing a dust produced in said blasting area, said containing means being connected to said blasting area.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said containing means includes a means for separating a reusable abrasive.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , further including a means for feeding said reusable abrasive to said blasting area.