The quality of glass depends upon the removal of dissolved gases and bubbles. A quantitative understanding of these processes is essential for glass production today, where quality requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Classical fining involves adding an element or compound to the melt which will, through oxidation-reduction reactions at high temperatures, produce gases that diffuse into the bubbles present in the melt. The growth of these bubbles then enhances the rate of bubble removal from the melt. The modelling of oxidation-reduction reactions & that of fining are generally treated independently from one another. However, due to the large number of bubbles present, a significant amount of dissolved gases are consumed & the chemical equilibrium in the melt is changed.
