| RefNo | EC/1969/26 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XVIII, 137 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Pilkington, Lionel Alexander Bethune: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Description | Citation typed |
| Citation | For many years glass manufacturers have sought a method of making flat glass sheet that avoided the need to grind and polish it. In 1952 Alastair Pilkington conceived the idea of floating a continuous ribbon of glass on molten metal so that both surfaces would be truly flat. The development of the idea involved formidable difficulties at each stage of laboratory, pilot plant and commercial production. It was not until 1959 that the successful full-scale output was achieved. The use of an applied electromotive force avoided certain difficulties arising at the tin/glass interface and also enabled the characteristics of the glass to be changed by introducing different metallic ions at a rapid rate. Since then the process has been improved to give greater flexibility and different types of glass. It has now been licensed by every large plate glass manufacturer in the world. In this field Britain has an unchallenged supremacy. In all this Pilkington was the leader of the development teams and their success has been due largely to his ingenuity in overcoming difficulties and to his courage in sustaining a persistent effort over several years, without any assurance that ultimate success would be achieved. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA510 | Pilkington; Sir; Lionel Alexander Bethune (1920 - 1995) | 1920 - 1995 |