NONCONVENTIONAL MANUFACTURE OF CELLULAR GLASS FROM RECYCLED POST-CONSUMER BOTTLE AND BEECH LEAVES AS A VEGETABLE EXPANDING AGENT

Abstract

The paper exposes testing results corresponding to the process of manufacture cellular glass from consumed drink glass packaging, a vegetable expanding agent (beech leaves) used for the world premiere, and borax as a flux agent. The process of sintering/expanding the powder material mixture was performed by microwave irradiation at 825-834 ºC, as a process improved by the authors of this paper and applied in previous experiments, unlike the conventional procedures used in processes of the same type.  The nonconventional heating has allowed a higher energy efficiency of the process and reduced energy consumption (0.78 kWh/kg). The optimal version of the manufacturing process with 30 % beech leaves, 65 % consumed drink glass packaging, and 5 % borax led to obtaining a cellular glass with features adequate for its use as heat insulating material in civil engineering having density of 0.60 g/cm³, heat conductivity of 0.124 W/mK, compression resistance of 5.0 MPa, absorbing the water of 1.5 vol. %, and cells dimension between 0.7-1.0 mm.