Chemical Process for Obtaining Glass with a Total or Partial Satin/Matte Finish Comprising Immersion in an Acid Solution, for Simultaneous and Continuous Production

Abstract

The invention relates to a chemical process for obtaining glass with a total or partial satin/matte finish, comprising immersion in an acid solution, for the simultaneous and continuous production of one or more parts and/or sheets of glass having standard, special or variable dimensions, thicknesses, colours, uses and applications. The inventive process can be used to obtain glass with a total or partial satin/matte finish in a simultaneous and continuous manner either on one or both sides of the glass (atmospheric side and tinned side) or of several glass sheets and/or parts at the same time, with different thicknesses, measurements, colours, uses, specifications and characteristics, said process being performed simultaneously by means of immersion. According to the invention, containers of glass sheets are immersed in containers of chemical solutions using a variable-speed transport immersion crane. The aforementioned containers are encapsulated such that the process can be controlled fully (safety, quality and environment). The inventive system also comprises a drying chamber. The purpose of the process is to enable the versatile, cost-effective, efficient, productive production of a glass with a total or partial satin/matte finish, having the above-mentioned characteristics and using different types of glass, with improved quality on one or both sides thereof, while guaranteeing full physical and environmental safety, since each of the operations in the process is fully and safely controlled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish, comprising immersion in an acid solution, for simultaneous and continuous production in a total or partial sheets of glass for producing at least one glass pieces with a variety of different dimensions, thicknesses, colors, standard uses and applications; said sheets of glass being treated on at least one side of an atmospheric side and a tinned side; the process comprising:
 a) reception of the glass pieces and/or sheets;   b) loading of the glass pieces and/or sheets towards at least one container;   c) processing of the glass pieces and/or sheets by immersion in acid solution in the at least one container;   d) drying the glass pieces and/or sheets;   e) unloading of the glass pieces and/or sheets from its container.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 1 , wherein the immersion step comprises treating the glass pieces by the immersion of the glass in the following solutions:
 a) washing and cleaning solution   b) acid solution   c) washed for rinsing   d) acidified solution and washed stop solution   e) washed for rinsing   f) washing solution   g) washing solution (optional)   
     
     
         3 . The chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 2 , where the composition of washing and cleaning solution consists in 57% of deionized water to less than 10 microhms, 3.5% of hydrofluoric acid and 39.5% of dextrose monohydrate. This solution is a pre-treatment for eliminating all the substances different to the glass. 
     
     
         4 . The chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 2 , where the acid solution contains:
 a) from 3% to 8% of hydrofluoric acid at 70%;   b) from 3% to 8% of hydrochloric acid at 30%;   c) from 10% to 30% of formic acid at 85%;   d) from 20% to 40% of deionized water with less than 10 microhms;   e) from 20% to 50% of ammonium bifluoride anhydrous; and   f) from 5% to 25% of sugar dextrose monohydrate,
 thereby producing an acidity of 4 to 8 miliequivalents per liter, and an electrical conductivity of from 700,000 to 900,000 microhms, and wherein the speed of immersion of the glass pieces in the acid solution being 5.2 to 19.3 meters per minute and the time of immersion of the sheets of glass within the solution is from of 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the opacity degree desired. 
   
     
     
         5 . Chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 2 , where the washed for rising is made by immersion in water and after sprinkling with deionized water. The speed of immersion of the sheets of glass is 5.2 meters per minute and the time of immersion is by intervals of 30 seconds from 3 to 6 times. This is made in containers two and four. 
     
     
         6 . Chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 2 , where the acidified solution and washed stop solution is prepared from the 3% to 5% of hydrochloric acid at 30%, and from the 3% to 5% of hydrofluoric acid at 70%; this solution stops the chemical reaction on the glass and eliminates the rest of chemical substances adhered to the glass during the process. The speed of immersion of the sheets of glass is of 5.2 meters per minute and the time of immersion is by intervals of 30 seconds of 3 to 6 times, the concentration of the acidified solution must have between 0.5 and 1.0 miliequivalents per liter, equivalent to pH from 2.1 to 3.2. 
     
     
         7 . Chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish as in  claim 2 , where the washing solution within the containers ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) contains deionized water; the wash is by immersion and by aspersion; the speed of immersion of the sheets of glass is of 5.2 meters per minute and the time of immersion is by intervals of 30 seconds of 3 to 6 times; this washing eliminates all the impurity from the process; the sheets of glass are clean, neutral, and inert; while guaranteeing full physical and environmental safety for obtaining glass with satin/matte finish. 
     
     
         8 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion in acid solution for simultaneous and continuous production of one or several pieces or thin sheets of glass of any kind of dimensions, thicknesses, colors, standard uses and applications; said sheets of glass may be treated in both sides, atmospheric side and tinned side, or just in one of them; of indistinct manner; this system comprising:
 a) Traveling “bridge” type crane for loading and unloading the pieces of glass   b) System “flag” type for loading and unloading the pieces of glass   c) Container of glass pieces and/or sheets   d) Crane and chain-hoist with variable-speed   e) Containers of chemical solutions   f) Encapsulated of the system   g) System of extractors, transporters and washers of gas   h) Drying chamber   i) Pumps and special equipment for handling the chemical solutions   
     
     
         9 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , which traveling crane “bridge” type has 3 tons of capacity, 15 meters of width, 20 meters of length and 5 meters in height; it has a microelevation of 0.5 meters per minute, its speed of elevation is variable from 0.5 meters per minute to 5.2 meters per minute; its speed of motor reducers transferring is variable from 5.1 meters per minute to 15.4 meters per minute, this same crane is used for loading the satin/matte glass packages on trucks for delivering and distribution them. 
     
     
         10 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , where the system “flag” type for loading and unloading comprising: a system of 6 pneumatic suction cups connected to a vacuum pump of a ¼ of H.P. with capacity of up to 500 kilograms, pneumatic suction cups are placed on a special framework designed to be able to put in it the container of pieces of glass; they have flexible movements and they turn 360°, because they are placed to an endless bullet mold to a chain-hoist by cable, this permit them horizontal and vertical movements on the rail of “flag” type system. This system is sufficiently versatile to be able to take the pieces of glass in vertical and horizontal form, or in any angle, besides it puts the sheets of glass in the container throughout rail. 
     
     
         11 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , whose the glass pieces/sheets containers were designed with the following technical and functional specifications: rectangular tubular steel profile (ptr) of 7.5 cm. by 5.8 cm., the formulation covering has polyester thyxotropic resin accelerated with a catalyzer like methyl-ethyl-ketone peroxide in dimethyl ftalate at 50%, for avoiding the acid attack. Also it has movable pivots made in plate and bar of high density polyethylene placed on the superior and lateral framework of the container of glass pieces; in the inferior part has a bar or plate of polypropylene or polyethylene (69 cm. in length, 5 cm. in width and 2.54 cm. in length), which has been grooved, 3 cm. of distance between groove and groove. 
     
     
         12 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , whose the crane and the chain-hoist has variable-speed of elevation from 0.5 m/minute to 5.2 m/minute and its speed of transferring is variable from 5.2 m/minute to 15.4 m/minute. 
     
     
         13 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , whose chemical solutions containers used in the process are constructed by brick, concrete and steel and have a special thickness of wall, have a cement layer of special thickness and a biphenolic resin layer with fiber glass of special thickness. They have a covering that resist the acid attack made by a plate of polypropylene of 0.635 cm. of thickness, these welded plates form a container or plate of polyethylene of high density. The containers have a stirring system with movement for homogenizing the chemical solutions through compressed air provided by a compressor of 135 psi, 30 amperes and 2.5 H.P. 
     
     
         14 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , comprising a encapsulated structure made by an structure of polyethylene with rectangular tubular steel profile (ptr) of 5.8 cm; this encapsulated structure permits to control the gas emanation. 
     
     
         15 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , comprising a set of extractors, transporters and gas emanation; the washers consist of two gas washers with four extractors each one, each extractor has an extraction of 800 cubic meters per hour; whose transport the gas emanation through the ducts until gas washer for neutralizing them, at the rate of 6400 cubic meters per hour. The neutralizing solution has sodium hydroxide to 4%; the operation volume is of 200 liters and permits to eliminate neutral and no reactive gas emanation through the chimneys; said chimneys have a port for analyzing gas samples, in order to renew and to maintain the level of the neutralizing solution and its concentration. 
     
     
         16 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , whose drying chamber is continuous and has a special design, development, use, manufacture and application; it works with L.P. gas, natural gas and/or electrical resistance, the range of temperature is from 35° C. to 60° C., during 2 to 3.5 hours. It has a capacity for loading 3 glass containers, it means 7500 kilograms of glass. Another form for drying the finished pieces of glass is employing to room temperature and using a horizontal or vertical washing-dried machine. 
     
     
         17 . System to produce a chemical process for obtaining float glass with satin/matte finish by immersion as claim in  8 , whose pumps and special recipient are made with PVC, and covering with high density polyethylene or propylene and polypropylene, whose are resistant to the acid attack. 
     
     
         18 . Float glass with satin/matte finish produced by immersion in a chemical process claimed from  1 , comprising total or partial pieces of glass with satin/matte finish either on one or both glass sides (atmospheric side and tinned side); glass sheets having standard, special or variable dimensions, thicknesses, colours, uses and applications including mirror sheets depending on the type of painting are managed with the same satin/matte process without any protection and the same conditions. 
     
     
         19 . Float glass with satin/matte finish produced by immersion in a chemical process claimed from  1 , comprising total or partial pieces of glass with satin/matte finish either on one or both sides of the glass (atmospheric side and tinned side); glass sheets having standard, special or variable dimensions, thicknesses, colours, uses and applications including two mirror sheets depending on the type of painting, are managed of simultaneously manner joining both painting sides applying:
 a) a pneumatic seal with vacuum pressure resistant to acid attack which is made with nitrile or synthetic rubber (Viton™).   b) a seal of silicone rubber with chemical agents resistant to the acid attack.   c) sticky double side tape with acrylic type sticky resistant to acid attack, placed on the glass edges and reinforced with impermeable sticky tape used in air conditioned duct resistant to the acid attack.   d) Also the mirror we can satin/matte it covering the painting side with auto-adhesive film type polyethylene placing on the glass edges and reinforced with an impermeable sticky tape used in air conditioned duct, both of them resistant to the acid attack.   
     
     
         20 . Float glass with satin/matte finish produced by immersion in a chemical process claimed from  1 , comprising pieces of glass with total or partial satin/matte finish on one side of the sheets (atmospheric side or tinned side). The applications including two sheets managed of simultaneously manner joining both painting sides, applying:
 a) a pneumatic seal with vacuum pressure resistant to acid attack which is made with nitrile or synthetic rubber (Viton™).   b) a seal of silicone rubber with chemical agents resistant to the acid attack.   c) sticky double side tape with acrylic type sticky resistant to acid attack, placed on the glass edges and reinforced with impermeable sticky tape used in air conditioned duct resistant to the acid attack.   d) Also the mirror we can satin/matte it covering the painting side with auto-adhesive film type polyethylene placing on the glass edges and reinforced with an impermeable sticky tape used in air conditioned duct, both of them resistant to the acid attack.