Abstract:
This invention relates to a process for forming small particles of microporous glass having inter-connected pores suitable to filter tobacco smoke. It particularly relates to a method of melting a phase-separable borosilicate glass composition, especially alkali borosilicates, forming the glass into a workable form, especially fibers, at elevated temperatures, phase separating the glass by heat treatment at elevated temperatures below the miscibility temperature of the glass for a sufficient period to form a silica-rich phase and a substantially continuous borate-rich phase, cooling the phase-separated glass, sizing the phase-separated glass, and leaching the glass to remove a sufficient quantity of the borate-rich phase to form microporous articles having inter-connected pores.
Abstract:
A tobacco smoke filter medium of microporous glass. A suitable microporous glass is an acid-leached, phase-separated, borosilicate glass, especially alkali borate silicate glass. The porous glass is used in bulk, granular, or fibrous form. The porous glass may be treated in an atmosphere of water vapor to increase the concentration of hydroxyl groups on the surfaces of the pores. The microporous glass filtering material is disposed in a downstream end of the smoke conduit of a smoking device which is adapted to accommodate a charge of tobacco. The glass particles present a microporous skeletal structure in which the SiO2 content is at least about 90 percent by weight.
Abstract:
This invention relates to phototropic articles containing thallous halides. It particularly relates to thallous halide containing glasses and glass-ceramics, particularly glasses and glass-ceramics containing thallous halides which have been doped with a metal such as copper or indium.