Glass silvering lines

LOADING AND SLAB PREPARATION
The glass sheet is loaded into the line and then proceeds to the surface preparation section of the glass divided as follows:

• First washing section composed of two cylindrical brushes and connected sprinklers acting on the two surfaces of the slab: this section has the task of removing the lucite.
• Degreasing section equipped with cup brushes mounted on a mobile frame acting with transversal movement compared to the advancement of the glass and with the use of a cerium oxide solution. This section has the task of eliminating the surface oxidation of the glass and any traces of dirt on the surface to be silvered.
• Second washing section composed of cylindrical brushes and connected sprinklers with the aim of completely eliminating any traces of cerium.

APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS

This section is composed differently depending on the chemical process and the supplier of the chemical solutions. In general, this section is divided as follows:

• Chemical sensitization section where the surface of the glass is sprayed with chemical compounds and with a subsequent rinsing in order to prepare the surface of the glass for the following silvering operation
• Silver plating section where the glass is sprayed with a silver-based solution and with a subsequent rinsing
• Copper plating solution where the sheet is sprayed with a copper-based solution or with a passivator and with a subsequent rinsing.

All the frames of the chemical section are equipped with covers and air suction in the reaction zones.

DRYING AND PRE-PAINTING OVEN

In the drying section, the glass surfaces are dried while in the pre-painting oven the plate is heated to facilitate the adhesion of the metal layers applied within the chemical section on the upper surface of the plate. The plate is also brought to the correct temperature for painting.

FIRST CURTAIN COATER

In the first coating section, a first layer of paint is deposited on the surface of the glass in order to seal the metal film applied in the previous chemical section.

INTERMEDIATE OVEN
This section is divided as follows:

• flash-off section where the solvent vapors are exhausted.
• heating section where the paint drying takes place. The heating can take place by means of IR lamps or gas panels.
• air cooling section where, by means of fans placed across the line, the temperature of the glass is lowered before being painted again in the next section.

SECOND CURTAIN COATER

As in the first section, a second layer of paint is deposited on top of the first one already applied.

FINAL OVEN

This section is divided as follows:

• flash-off section where the solvent vapors are exhausted.
• heating section where the drying and baking of the paint takes place. Heating and baking can take place by means of IR lamps or gas panels.

COOLING

This section is divided as follows:
forced air cooling section generated by fans positioned across the water line section by sprinklers.

FINAL CLEANING AND UNLOADING
This section is composed as follows:

• acid cleaning section where the elimination of any traces of silver on the lower surface of the glass takes place
• washing section by means of cylindrical brushes and connected sprinklers
• drying section to dry the glass surfaces
• unloading section where the glass is unloaded