Induction plasma synthesis of nanometric spheroidized glass powder for use in cementitious materials

Abstract

Because of its high throughput, Inductively-Coupled Plasma (ICP) torch can commercially provide an added value to waste glass (WG). It vaporizes WG into nanometric spheroidized glass powder (SGP) that could be used as a cementitious material. Changing the plasma gas (N2 vs O2), quench flow rate, pressure and WG feed rate induce variations on the particle size distribution and chemical composition. Using Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEGSEM), Brunauer, Emmet and Teller (BET) method, nano phase separation and Inductively-Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), low quench gas, pressure and WG feed rate increase the nanometric content and specific surface of SGP. The use of O2 increases silica (SiO2) and decreases the sodium oxide (Na2O) content of SGP. The use of N2 rather demonstrates enrichment of SGP in Na2O in the cold reactor zones. This study shows that the nucleation theory of a crystalline material can be applied to an amorphous material.