Glass Melting Technology: A Technical and Economic ... - OSTI

glass fibers at a location operated by a cost share partner. A cost share partner will assess the
glass quality through testing of both the fiber product and the fiber processing characteristics.
Testing with other compositions will follow if there is sufficiently high fiberglass quality to
interest companies from other sectors.
Technology transfer plan
This proposal is unique. The technology being tested was initially tested by J-M, one of the
industry partners. The participation of AGY further indicates the desire of industry to see this
technology brought to market. The continued participation of each of these companies sends a
clear message that the technology is of interest, and that a successful development program
would benefit them commercially. AGY and J-M represent two short term, high-probability
opportunities to rapidly transfer the technology to industry users.
Plasmelt has been formed to serve as the prime contract holder for this program. In addition,
Plasmelt will also serve as the foundation for commercialization of the developed technology.
To support commercialization, market analysis studies will be conducted during Year 1 of the
project and be run concurrently with the R&D. This work will be completed before the end of
Year 1 and will form the foundation for the Plasmelt business and marketing plan.
Plasmelt has entered into an agreement with JM that grants exclusive rights to Plasmelt to
commercially exploit the JM technology that is covered in their two patents and that resides in
the JM technical database. Through this agreement, Plasmelt now has the rights to license and
distribute the technology to third parties. After acquiring these exclusive rights, Plasmelt plans
to market the developed technology to other users in the marketplace, offering the process for
sale (equipment and users license), as well as process development, pilot plant evaluations, and
equipment process support.
Assuming that the Phase I testing indicates that the product is of satisfactory quality and process
ability, commercialization efforts will immediately focus on placing the first integrated
installation within the glass fiber sector. AGY has stated their serious interest in being
considered as the first installation, with this activity possibly being carried out during Year 2.
The Boulder Lab will be maintained as a pilot facility in order to continue to do melting
feasibility studies with any glass company that has an interest in specific glasses or specific
products and/or scrap reclaim programs. Two other major US glass companies have already
stated to Plasmelt an interest in testing the glass that will be produced in the Boulder Lab. Both
of these companies have stated a serious interest in plasma melting for their own commercial
operations, which includes lighting tubes, lab ware, TV tubes, LCD screens, optical fibers, and
flat LCD screens. These test programs will be conducted by Plasmelt on behalf of the customer,
permitting environmental, product, process, and energy use assessments.
The melter to be installed in Boulder will be designed with portability in mind such that the
melter system may be transported to prospective client locations for their onsite evaluations
using their own existing glass processing and forming systems. The capability of this plasma
melter will be evaluated for use in as many sectors within the glass industry as possible. Active
market development efforts will target these other sectors. The Boulder test site will be
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