Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for making an opal glass comprising the steps of: A. a bentonite clay exhibiting a DTA curve free from a sharp rise in slope at about 900° C., having a cation exchange capacity of about 100-200 milliequivalents/100 grams, and consisting essentially, in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 57-78.5% SiO 2 , 13.8-23% A1 2 O 3 , 0-4% MgO, 0-5% Fe 2 O 3 , 0-2.5% CaO, 0-5.4% Na 2 O, and 0-0.5% K 2 O, is treated with an aqueous solution of a sodium and/or potassium salt to exchange sodium and/or potassium ions with other cations present in said clay to obtain a mono-cationic derivative having a composition within the Na 2 O/K 2 O-A1 2 O 3 -SiO 2 system; B. the ion exchanged clay is washed with water; C. the washed clay is dried; D. the dried clay is shaped into a desired form; and E. the clay shape is fired to vitrification in accordance with the schedule: a. the clay shape is dried; b. the clay shape is dehydroxylized and carbonaceous material is burned out by heating to about 700°-900° C.; and then c. the clay shape is vitrified by heating to about 950°-1200° C.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for making an opal glass comprising the steps of: A. a bentonite clay exhibiting a DTA curve free from a sharp rise in slope at about 900° C., having a cation exchange capacity of about 100-200 milliequivalents/100 grams, and consisting essentially, in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 57-78.5% SiO 2 , 13.8-23% A1 2 O 3 , 0-4% MgO, 0-5% Fe 2 O 3 , 0-2.5% CaO, 0-5.4% Na 2 O, and 0-0.5% K 2 O, is treated with an aqueous solution of a sodium and/or potassium salt to exchange sodium and/or potassium ions with other cations present in said clay to obtain a mono-cationic derivative having a composition within the Na 2 O/K 2 O-A1 2 O 3 -SiO 2 system; B. the ion exchanged clay is washed with water; C. the washed clay is dried; D. the dried clay is shaped into a desired form; and E. the clay shape is fired to vitrification in accordance with the schedule: a. the clay shape is dried; b. the clay shape is dehydroxylized and carbonaceous material is burned out by heating to about 700°-900° C.; and then c. the clay shape is vitrified by heating to about 950°-1200° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said ion exchange is conducted in 0.1N-10N aqueous solutions of sodium and/or potassium salts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said sodium and/or potassium salts are NaCl and/or KC1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said ion exchange is conducted at temperatures between the freezing point and boiling point of the aqueous solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said ion exchange is conducted at room temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said clay contains carbonate impurities such that it is treated in a dilute acid solution, washed with water, and, optionally, dried prior to being subjected to the ion exchange reaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said washed clay is dried at a temperature between about 100°-200° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said clay shape is dried by heating at a temperature between about 100°-200° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said clay shape is dehydroxylized and carbonaceous material is burned out by heating for about 2-8 hours.