Effect of microstructure on the physicochemical characteristics of foam glass made by Soda lime -CRT glasses and aluminium dross

Abstract

Foam glass, an inorganic insulation material, is primarily manufactured from recycled glass or sand combined with a foaming agent. During fabrication, gas bubbles are generated in the softened glass, causing it to expand and form a cellular structure. Critical parameters such as cell size, type (closed or open cells), distribution, and uniformity significantly influence the physical and chemical properties of foam glass, ensuring sustained thermal efficiency. This research aims to produce foam glass exclusively from waste materials, thereby promoting the circular economy by utilizing container glass, cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, and aluminium dross. A comprehensive microstructural analysis, employing computer tomography and scanning electron microscopy, elucidated key properties including density, thermal conductivity, and water absorption. The manufactured foam glass exhibited lightweight characteristics, with a density ranging from 0.15 to 0.18 g/cm³. Additionally, the foam glass demonstrated low thermal conductivity (between 0.038 W/m·K and 0.05 W/m·K), which can be attributed to the heterogeneous distribution of cells that effectively reduce heat convection. This property makes foam glass an excellent thermal insulator. Furthermore, both high-absorption (open porosity) and low-absorption (closed porosity) foam glasses were successfully produced.