(19)

(11)

EP 0 881 987 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 09.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/50 (21) Application number: 97905726.0 (22) Date of filing: 11.02.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C03B 19/ 14( . ) C04B 41/ 53( . ) C03C 3/ 06( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/001681 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/030933 (28.08.1997 Gazette 1997/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB NL (30) Priority: 21.02.1996 US 19960011997P (71) Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED Corning, N.Y. 14831 (US)	(72) Inventors: PAVLIK, Robert, S., Jr. Painted Post, NY 14870 (US) SEMPOLINSKI, Daniel, R. Painted Post, NY 14870 (US) WASILEWSKI, Michael, H. Corning, NY 14830 (US) (74) Representative: Marchant, James Ian, et al  Elkington and Fife, Prospect House, 8 Pembroke Road Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR (GB)