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Specifically, if a piece of aluminized glass is heated to the melting point of the glass will the coating dissolve into it or otherwise react with it?

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    $\begingroup$ I think nothing will happen - you get molten salt polymer and molten metal phases - very different properties. $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Oct 21, 2015 at 12:14
  • $\begingroup$ @Mithoron would a thermite-like reaction happen? blog.teachersource.com/2011/03/02/silicon-from-sand or would it have to be well above melting point? $\endgroup$
    – DavePhD
    Oct 21, 2015 at 12:54
  • $\begingroup$ At least with quartz it's supposed to be hard to trigger - researchgate.net/publication/… - obtained by arc discharge (!) $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Oct 21, 2015 at 13:06
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    $\begingroup$ The aluminum would like to oxidize, and may end up grabbing some oxygen from the glass. It will likely end up as a alumina-silicate glass (with the sodium/boron/whatnot as well). $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Oct 21, 2015 at 14:13

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Since soda[-lime] glass is specified, then Al will react with the alkali forming an aluminate, e.g. $\ce{Na2Al2O4}$. This may or may not dissolve in the molten glass, depending on concentration of the aluminate(s), temperature and cooling rate. If it precipitates, the glass would have a "frosted" appearance.

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