Soda Ash Free Batches for Novel Container Glass Compositions

A series of novel container glass compositions has been developed that can be melted from natural raw materials without the addition of soda ash. Each formulation contains up to 50% cullet from recycled container glass. The temperature–viscosity profiles, liquidus temperatures, electrical resistivities, and basic processability of these compositions are comparable to those of conventional soda–lime–silica glasses. Melting energy consumption is decreased, and the batch‐to‐melt conversion time is markedly reduced. The resulting glasses exhibit significantly lower coefficients of thermal expansion.