AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF FREE-SURFACE TRANSPORT, BIFURCATION, AND ADHESION PHENOMENA AS RELATED TO A HOLLOW GLASS AMPUL AND A METALLIC CONDUCTOR

An experimental investigation of free surface transport and subsequent bifurcation and adhesion for a hollow glass ampule is presented in this work. Detailed phenomenological features of the process are displayed and discussed. This experimental investigation, which is generic in nature, provides the much needed phenomenological information on free surface transport, glass processing as related to optical fiber production, and glass-to-metal sealing processes. Detailed images of the actual sealing process provide valuable information on identifying and isolating the key regimes in the process and mapping out process defects, and contribute to a basic understanding of the physical mechanisms involved in the sealing process.