| CPC E06B 3/66333 (2013.01) [C03C 8/08 (2013.01); E06B 3/6612 (2013.01); E06B 3/6733 (2013.01); E06B 3/67343 (2013.01); E06B 3/6736 (2013.01); E06B 3/6775 (2013.01); E06B 3/66304 (2013.01); E06B 2003/66338 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A method comprising:
providing a first pane;
applying a primary sealant to the first pane adjacent to and along a perimeter of the first pane, wherein the primary sealant includes a first foaming agent;
applying a secondary sealant to the first pane adjacent to the primary sealant and along the perimeter of the first pane, wherein the secondary sealant is surrounded by the primary sealant, wherein the secondary sealant includes a second foaming agent;
positioning support pillars on the first pane;
positioning an evacuation tube on the first pane;
positioning a second pane on the support pillars;
heating the primary sealant with a laser beam for a duration and at a temperature sufficient to sinter the primary sealant to form a primary seal joining the first pane and the second pane, wherein the primary seal includes a first glass material that has a closed pore structure due to the first foaming agent;
heating the secondary sealant with the laser beam for a duration and at a temperature sufficient to sinter the secondary sealant to form a secondary seal between the first pane and the second pane, wherein the secondary seal includes a second glass material that has an open pore structure due to the second foaming agent;
evacuating an intermediate space defined between the first pane, the second pane, and the primary seal to produce a low-pressure environment in the intermediate space by drawing gas from the intermediate space through the evacuation tube; and
sealing the evacuation tube and thereby hermetically sealing the intermediate space within the first pane, the second pane, the primary seal, and the evacuation tube to maintain the low-pressure environment therein.
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