Research has been conducted on the effects of the particle size distribution of a glass batch on the reaction path leading up to the first glassy phase. The research has involved DTA/TGA, X‐ray diffraction, and SEM/EDS studies of particle size effects on the reaction path. The results of the studies were compiled to give a description of the reaction path for three soda‐lime‐silica batches, each with a different silica particle size distribution. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of the silica particle size distribution on the reaction path and to determine the feasibility of building a predictive computer model consistent with these re