INNOVATIVE WAY TO PRODUCE GLASS FOAM IN MICROWAVE FIELD

Abstract

The paper presents results of research conducted by the Romanian company Daily Sourcing & Research on the use of microwave energy in the manufacture process of glass foams. Compared to similar products manufactured by conventional heating techniques, the physical, mechanical and morphological features of the experimental samples are close and meet the requirements for materials used as thermal insulators. The apparent densities and thermal conductivities are low (0.16 – 0.24 g/ cm³ and respectively 0.037 – 0.043 W/ m · K) and the compressive strength has acceptable values (1.14 – 1.25 MPa). The manufacturing technique of glass foam in microwave field, in experimental stage in the Romanian company Daily Sourcing & Research, has already confirmed its effectiveness in numerous tests conducted in the last two years.