Physical And Chemical Reactions, Which Lead To Fluxine Attack And Upward Drilling In Glass Tanks

Although wetting-properties are usually given as the cause of upward drilling and flux-line attack, the "alkali pump" is the main cause. By this effect, new glass having a normal alkali content is continuously conveyed into the gap between the bubble and the refractory block or across the glass surface in the case of flux line attack. This glass gives up its alkali by reaction with the alumina in the refractory.