%D 2008
%L miis262
%T Acid Polishing of Lead Crystal Glass
%X The industrial partner manufactures high quality lead crystal glassware. The cutting of decorative features in the glass damages the surface and the cuts are optically opaque; to restore transparency, the glass is polished in a solution of hydrofluoric (HF) and sulphuric acid (H2 SO4 .) The polishing process comprises three stages:
   1. immersion in a polishing tank containing acid;
   2. rinsing in a tank containing water; and
   3. settlement of the solid reaction products in a settlement tank.
The manufacturer hopes to optimise its polishing process to
    • minimise the health/environmental impact of the process;
    • maximise throughput;
    • maintain the sharpness of the cut edges while still polishing to an acceptable level of transparency.

The study group was asked to focus on modelling three aspects of the process:
    • the chemical reactions involved in the etching at the glass-acid solution interface;
    • the removal of reaction products in the settlement tank;
    • flow within the polishing tank.
%A Andrew Fowler
%A Maria Gonzalez
%A Alan Hegarty
%A John King
%A Hilary Ockendon
%A Stephen O’Brien
%A Marguerite Robinson
%A G. I. Shishkin
%A David Tocher
%A Qi Wang