THERMAL INSULATING GLASS FOAM WITH HIGH MECHANICAL STRENGTH MADE BY MICROWAVE RADIATION

Abstract

The paper presents results of research in the manufacturing domain of some glass foams with thermal insulating characteristics (apparent density of 0.50 g/cm³, porosity of 76.2% and thermal conductivity of 0.149 W/m·K) and with a very high compressive strength (16.6 MPa). The product was achieved by sintering at 853 ºC of a pressed mixture composed from 78.2% container glass waste, 1.0% sodium carbonate, 2.0% glycerol, 7.8% sodium silicate and 11.0% water. The adopted heating technique was the predominantly direct microwave heating in a 0.8 kW-microwave oven, which allowed to obtain a low specific energy consumption of 1.10 kWh/kg.