GLASS FOAM FROM BOROSILICATE GLASS WASTE PRODUCED IN MICROWAVE FIELD

Abstract

The paper presents experimental results of producing glass foam from borosilicate glass waste (laboratory ware) using the microwave energy. More variants of foaming agents (silicon carbide, calcium carbonate and activated carbon) and additives (coal ash and disodium phosphate) were tested in the Romanian company Daily Sourcing & Research. The glass foams have characteristics specific to those made of borosilicate glass waste by conventional heating, i. e. relatively low apparent density (0.34 – 0.47 g/ cm3), but higher than those resulting from soda-lime glass waste and compressive strength (1.5 – 2.5 MPa) higher than theirs. As glass foams mainly made of soda-lime glass waste, and those made of borosilicate glass waste are suitable for use as insulating material in construction.