REVIEW: MAKING STRENGTH CELLULAR GLASS

Abstract

The original non-conventional technique of preparing expanded bottle utilizing recycled bottle waste and a combination between glycerin in association with Na₂SiO₃ and Na₂CO₃, as liquid and respectively, solid expanding agents, was experimentally tested on an 800 W-electromagnetic wave oven and shown in this article. The work objective was obtaining a cellular glass with physio-mechanical and thermal features almost identical to those achieved by conventional techniques at industrial-scale. Thus, the heat conductivity was in the range of 0.060-0.072 W·m^-1·K^-1, while the compression resistance increased at 6.5-7.2 MPa. Also, the experimental results confirmed the remarkable power efficiency of the non-conventional process, the power use value being diminished to an extremely reduced measure (0.74-0.83 kWh·kg^-1). In conclusion, the cellular product made by the unused technique worldwide proved to be suitable for application in special constructions.