Foam Glass Research Articles

Thermal Performance of Foam Glass Aggregate at Different Compaction Ratios

The use of glass waste in the construction industry has a high potential of leading to a higher recycling percentage. Foam glass aggregate (FGA) is around 98% recycled glass waste of various origins and has good insulation properties with big grain size distributions ranging between 10 mm and 60 mm. FGA has a wide range of applicability in the construction industry, which significantly differs from each implementation in the case of built-in conditions of the material. Therefore, investigating the impact of different compaction ratios, temperature, and relative humidity conditions on the thermal performance of such material is very important. In the present work, the samples of foam glass aggregates have been prepared with four different compaction ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) to measure their impact on the material’s mechanical and thermal insulation properties. The obtained results revealed that the dry density property of the material linearly increased with elevated compaction ratios. In contrast, the submergence density did not follow the same trend behaviour under the same circumstances. The vertical strain of the foam glass aggregates decreased with increased compaction ratios, and a significant correlation behaviour was observed between the vertical strain and increased compaction ratios at high compressional loads. The material’s thermal conductivity increased with increasing compaction ratios in both 50% relative humidity and 95% relative humidity, while for the submergence condition, a significant decrease in their values was observed after compacting the material by 40%. The thermal conductivity is tested at 10 °C and 30 °C using the TLS and GHP methods. The thermal resistance of foam glass aggregate layers was calculated based on the measured results, showing an approximately linear decreasing trend with increasing compaction ratios. While the submerged foam glass aggregate samples demonstrated stable thermal resistance values at 30% compaction, by raising the compaction ratio to 40%, the material’s thermal resistance increased once again. The experimental results also found the temperature conversion coefficients, which can be used to convert the compacted FGA materials’ thermal conductivity to the temperature experienced in a different built-in state than the laboratory measurements. Our study demonstrates the broad usability of foam glass aggregate as a compacted thermal insulating layer in the building industry.

Effect of Static Loading States on the Compressional Behavior of Foam Glass Aggregate

In this study, two groups of foam glass aggregate (FGA) samples were prepared with four different compaction ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and subjected to a series of static compressional loads from 50kPa to 300kPa with 50kPa interval. In first group of the test (changed load samples, ChLS), for each static load value, a new sample was prepared and tested. In the other group of the test (continuously loaded samples, CLS), all prescribed static compressional loads were sequentially applied over the same sample after satisfying the required strain rate at each load. The results revealed that the overall vertical strain values of CLS were lower than ChLS except for 10%, which shows reverse behavior. For both sample types, the required time to reach the desired vertical strain rate was much higher when the compaction ratio was low, and the compressional load was above 250 kPa. The compaction methodology used in the present study led to more reliable vertical strain values for both short- and long-term loading periods compared to other reported results executed on FGA under the same static compressional load circumstances. The evolution in the particle distribution curve of FGA particles after maximum compaction ratio (40%) was nonsignificant compared to the study works that depended on traditional standard test methods of compaction and led to severe change in particles structural component. The current findings beneficially affect civil engineering applications using FGA by defining the material's final strain values when subjected to static compressional loads at different compaction ratios.

Failure characterisation of sandwich beams using integrated acoustic emission and digital image correlation techniques

The paper presents the experimental study of the failure behaviour of sandwich beams subjected to bending. The samples examined are sandwich beams made of polyethylene terephthalate foam core and glass fibre-reinforced polymer laminate face sheets. In a series of experiments, it has been proposed to integrate diagnostic techniques with acoustic emission and digital image correlation to accurately track the cracking process on the surface as well as in the entire volume of the beam. The research programme carried out allowed observing various modes of failure in composite specimens. The results obtained showed that the integration of acoustic and optical diagnostic techniques provided complementary results and can be used successfully for failure monitoring in sandwich beams.

Uniaxial dynamic behavior of foam glass aggregate under oedometric (fully side restrained) condition at different compaction ratios

Foam glass aggregate (FGA) is considered as a lightweight and thermal insulation material. It has a wide granular size distribution nature that can influence the material's dynamic response when subjected to moving loads. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the impact of different compaction ratios on the material's dynamic behavior. This study focused on examining the effects of varying compaction ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) on dynamic parameters such as resilient stiffness (Mr) and accumulated plastic strains (ɛacc) of FGA. Uniaxial deviatoric stresses were applied to the material samples in a series to assess their influence on the material's behavior over multiple cycles. The results revealed the significant influence of increasing the compaction ratio to 40% on the material's behavior. At this compaction ratio, the ɛacc decreased to approximately 71%, 69%, and 86% for deviatoric stresses of 25 kPa, 100 kPa, and 200 kPa, respectively, after subjecting the material to 40,000 cycles. The increase in recoverable strains resulting from the material's fragile property under higher compaction energy led to a decrease in the Mr values of FGA samples as the compaction ratios increased. The lower boundary of Mr values for FGA ranged from 102 MPa to 189 MPa, while the upper boundary ranged from 150 MPa to 219 MPa under the selected deviatoric stresses. Although the interpretation of the shakedown criterion limitations yielded varying ranges for the colocation of FGA samples, it was found that FGA samples compacted at 40% exhibited robust characteristics suitable for constructing road embankments. This can be beneficial for infrastructure applications due to their excellent lightweight and thermal insulation properties.

Foam glasses made from green bottle glass and sugar beet factory lime as a foaming agent

Great waste production alongside limited natural resources represents huge environmental and economic problems worldwide. Sustainable waste management and industrial production can reduce pollution and gain some economic benefits. Eco-friendly thermal insulators such as foam glasses can be produced using secondary raw materials in open-loop recycling. Foam glasses were successfully produced using green bottle glass and sugar beet factory lime (SBFL), CaCO3-rich waste as a novel foaming agent. Glass powder was mixed with different amounts of SBFL, uniaxially pressed at 20 MPa, and sintered at different temperatures. The influence of sintering temperature and the addition of a foaming agent was examined. Obtained samples were mechanically, thermally, and microstructurally characterized. Results showed that samples sintered at 800 °C have the best properties. Obtained foam glasses can be used in a variety of industries where thermal insulation, non-flammability, and non-toxic materials are required.

Использование пеностекла (гранулированного) в очистке городских поверхностных сточных вод

Introduction. When purifying natural objects from heavy metals a decisive role is played by sorption technologies, for the development of which new kinds of sorbents are required. The aim of the study is to evaluate the sorption capacity of granulated foam glass in the treatment of surface wastewater (SW) from urbanized areas from heavy metals (on the example of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn). Materials and methods. Granulated foam glass was used as a sorbent. The sorbate was urban surface wastewater from the city of Chelyabinsk. The interaction in the sorbent-sorbate system was studied in laboratory conditions by the limited volume method of static sorption when the pollutants were in the liquid phase and brought into contact with a stationary sorbent. The contact time of the sorbent with the sorbate was varied from 3 to 168 hours and the ambient temperature from 0 to 20 °C. The structure and surface composition of the sorbents were studied using a JEOL JSM-6460LV scanning electron microscope with an attachment for micro X-ray spectral analysis. Changes in the sorbate composition during interaction with the sorbents were determined by atomic emission spectrometry on an OPTIMA 2100 DV spectrometer (Perkin Elmer). Hydrogen index was determined on a pH-meter microprocessor рН-150МИ. Results. The structure and surface composition of granulated cellular glass has been studied. The efficiency of sorption of granulated foam glass of heavy metals from urban surface wastewater has been revealed. Conclusions. The results show that the investigated granulated foam glass is an effective sorption material and allows the extraction of heavy metals (cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, zinc) from urban surface wastewater.

Development of an indoor solar simulator for the evaluation of the thermal roof performance for commercial buildings in Malaysia

Past researchers have expressed the difficulty in assessing the empirical thermal performance of an entire roof assembly in terms of thermal resistance (RSI value) under hot conditions. This research discussed the development of an indoor solar simulator to assess the thermal performance of commercial building roofs under steady-state conditions. The indoor solar simulator has 40 halogen lamps to simulate solar radiation. Thermocouples and heat flux transducers are mounted at various points across the roof assembly to measure the heat transfer through the roof assembly. From the error analysis, the RSI values obtained experimentally using the indoor solar simulator and ASHRAE Standard agree with a MAPE value of 6.13%. This paper compares the thermal performance of radiant barriers, bubble foil reflective insulation, polyurethane (PU) foam, and mineral glass wool in a roof assembly. The measurement results showed that the radiant barrier and bubble foil reflective insulation has high RSI values ranging from 1.22 m2K/W to 2.19 m2K/W for enclosed air gap thicknesses from 25 mm to 125 mm. In contrast, the metal deck roof with PU metal resulted in RSI values from 0.55 m2K/W to 1.62 m2K/W for PU thicknesses from 20 mm to 50 mm. The combination of radiant barrier and glass mineral wool of 50 mm and 100 mm resulted in RSI values of 0.83 m2K/W and 1.60 m2K/W, respectively. The results from this research can be used to identify the optimum insulation for different roof configurations commonly used in the Malaysian building industry.

Thermo-smart composite materials: Exploring the potential of graphene-doped porous silica foams

In this work we investigate an example of combining the thermal insulation properties of porous oxide material with the exceptional thermal conductivity properties of graphene flakes. Blocks were prepared using the original sol–gel method, with fumed silica and water glass as the main components, to form a porous glass foam matrix by heat treatment at 450 °C. The microstructure of the samples was determined by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The thermal and mechanical properties of the samples were also analysed and discussed with respect to their potential applications as novel thermo-smart composite materials.

District cradle to grave LCA including the development of a localized embodied carbon database and a detailed end-of-life carbon emission workflow

The building industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in today's world. To measure the environmental impacts of GHG emissions, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been increasingly utilized in recent years, and building LCA tries to evaluate the GHG emissions in three main phases including embodied carbon (EC), operational carbon (OC), and End-of-life carbon (EOLC).Most of the studies in this field have dealt with individual buildings as the scope of their research. The literature review showed a significant gap regarding the implementation of the LCA on a wider district-level scale rather than just one building. In addition, most of the studies have only considered landfilling of the waste materials and emissions related to this activity for the whole disposal phase emissions. Therefore, a more detailed analysis regarding the EOLC emission has been carried out to recognize the actual share of this section in the whole building’s LCA.To fill the mentioned gaps, this research has done a cradle-to-grave LCA by utilizing localized building materials' EC emission data, besides an OC emission assessment followed by a detailed EOLC emission analysis for a district in Montreal's downtown. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis regarding the selection of the best building materials according to their environmental performance has been implemented.The results of this study show that for different retrofitting scenarios of the buildings in a district, among the main building components for renovations (walls, roofs, and floors), walls are responsible for the most significant share of the GHG emissions and between various components of the walls, insulation layers have the most impact on the total embodied, operational and EOLC emissions. Detailed EOLC emission analysis revealed that even after implementing a detailed examination of the end-of-life phase, the share of EOLC emissions within the building's life cycle remains below 10%. Finally, the sensitivity analysis among the insulation layers has illustrated that buildings using foam glass for their insulation layer have the most GHG emissions, and buildings with glass wool have the least amount of emissions.

Glass foam of high compressive strength produced from photovoltaic module waste glass, eggshell, and clay

AbstractA glass foam (GF) of high specific compressive strength (12.17±1.91 MPa g−1 cm−3) and low thermal conductivity (.121±.001 Wm−1 K−1) was produced from waste glass of photovoltaic module, eggshells, and bentonite clay. The influences of the amount of clay and heat‐treatment temperature on the GFs final properties were assessed. X‐ray diffraction results and the data of microscopic analyses demonstrated that addition of clay affected the structure and porosity of the GFs, and consequently their mechanical properties. On the basis of the mechanical property (density), the GF that composed of 80% waste glass, 10% clay, and 10% eggshell at the sintering temperature of 900°C was the best. The GFs reported in this study could serve as promising insulators in situations where high load support is required.

MOF glass foam: a blueprint to porous membrane scaling-up

MOF glass foam: a blueprint to porous membrane scaling-up

Fabrication of TiZr-based bulk metallic glass foams with different gradient porosities for biomedical application

Porous titanium zirconium (TiZr)-based bulk metallic glass foams (BMGFs) with different gradient porosities and Cu spacer particles were successfully fabricated through hot pressing. Two types of gradient porosity set as low-to-high (3 layers) and low-to-high-to-low (5 layers), with the porosities ranging from 0% to 50%, were used. The glass-forming ability of the samples of varying porosities did not differ, and the sample composed of the low-to-high-to-low gradient porosity type exhibited higher compressive strength and Young’s modulus across the range of porosities. Furthermore, the compressive strength and Young’s modulus of TiZr-based BMGFs can be controlled through a combination of gradient porosities.

Strength characteristics of lightweight concrete based on granular foam glass ceramics

Introduction. Over the past 20–30 years, a wide range of effective porous aggregates with a high content of glass phase of various types and low-heat-conducting lightweight concretes of various structures based on them has been developed.In recent years, JSC Research Center of Construction has developed a new highly efficient single-stage technology for the production of porous granular foam glass ceramics (UCS). It is based on the production of raw granules by mixing and granulating a highly porous powder of opal-cristobalite rock with a sodium-containing solution. This ensures the maximum area of the interfacial boundary, the most uniform distribution of all components at the micro level and, as a result, ensures glass formation at a temperature that does not exceed the foaming interval of the finished glass phase.The aim of the publication is to study the problems of the features of the strength characteristics of lightweight concrete on granular foam glass ceramics.Materials and methods. The strength of cubes made of light concrete on the UCS under compression (R) was determined on samples with a size of 10 × 10 × 10 cm and 7 × 7 × 7 cm according to State Standard 10180-2012 with an assessment of strength according to State Standard 18105-2018.The prismatic strength coefficient (Kpp) was determined by the results of compression tests of samples-prisms with dimensions of 10 × 10 × 40 cm and 7 × 7 × 28 cm and samples made from the same batch-cubes with dimensions of 10 × 10 × 10 cm and 7 × 7 × 7 cm.Bending tensile strength (Rtb) (Figure 2) and splitting strength (Rtt) were determined, respectively, on 10 × 10 × 40 cm prism samples and 10 × 10 × 10 cm cube samples according to State Standard 10180-2012 with an assessment of strength values according to State Standard 18105-2018.Axial tensile strength (Rtb) and splitting strength (Rtt) were determined, respectively, on prism samples measuring 7 × 7 × 28 cm according to State Standard 10180-2012. The strength of the prisms (prismatic strength, Rb) was determined on samples of prisms 10 × 10 × 40 cm according to State Standard 24452-80.Results. The article presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies of the basic strength properties of thermal insulation and structural-thermal insulation lightweight concrete on granulated foam ceramic (UCS) with a density of 500 to 800 kg/m3, as well as structural lightweight concrete with a density of up to 1700 kg/m3 of optimal compositions (prismatic compressive strength, prismatic strength coefficient, axial tensile strength, tensile strength during bending and splitting).Various dependencies on the evaluation of the experimental data obtained are analyzed and recommendations are given for inclusion in regulatory documents, in particular, in SP 351.1325800.2017 "Concrete and reinforced concrete structures made of light concrete. Design rules".Conclusions. Experimental data have been obtained on a higher prismatic strength coefficient for lightweight concrete at the UCS, which in the future may be the basis for increasing the standard design strength resistance under axial compression for this type of lightweight concrete.The values and formulas for determining the prismatic strength and the prismatic strength coefficient of light concrete of the tested compositions at the UCS can be used in the calculation and design of large-format wall panels of a new type.Experimental and calculated data on the tensile strength of the tested compositions of lightweight concrete of a porous structure at the UCS have been obtained, which can be taken into account when adjusting regulatory documents.When using lightweight concrete of a porous structure on the UCS to increase the shrinkage crack resistance of such concrete for enclosing structures, it is advisable to use dispersed reinforcement with polymer fiber, which also increases the heat-protective properties of such structures. The article presents the results of studies of the main strength properties of thermal insulation and structural-thermal insulation lightweight concretes on the UCS with a density of 500 to 800 kg/m3, as well as structural lightweight concretes with a density of up to 1700 kg/m3 of optimal compositions.Various dependencies on the evaluation of the experimental data obtained are analyzed and recommendations are given for inclusion in regulatory documents, in particular, in SP 351. 1325800.2017 "Concrete and reinforced concrete structures made of light concrete. Design rules".

ZIF-62 glass foam self-supported membranes to address CH4/N2 separations.

Membranes with ultrahigh permeance and practical selectivity could greatly decrease the cost of difficult industrial gas separations, such as CH4/N2 separation. Advanced membranes made from porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, can achieve a good gas separation performance, although they are typically formed on support layers or mixed with polymeric matrices, placing limitations on gas permeance. Here an amorphous glass foam, agfZIF-62, wherein a, g and f denote amorphous, glass and foam, respectively, was synthesized by a polymer-thermal-decomposition-assisted melting strategy, starting from a crystalline zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-62. The thermal decomposition of incorporated low-molecular-weight polyethyleneimine evolves CO2, NH3 and H2O gases, creating a large number and variety of pores. This greatly increases pore interconnectivity but maintains the crystalline ZIF-62 ultramicropores, allowing ultrahigh gas permeance and good selectivity. A self-supported circular agfZIF-62 with a thickness of 200-330 µm and area of 8.55 cm2 was used for membrane separation. The membranes perform well, showing a CH4 permeance of 30,000-50,000 gas permeance units, approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of other reported membranes, with good CH4/N2 selectivity (4-6).

Development and Performance Characterization of Lightweight Foam Glass Mixed with Coal Waste

Waste glass and fly ash are used as main raw materials, borax is used as fluxing agent, and calcium carbonate is used as foaming agent to prepare foam glass. The main factors affecting the performance of foam glass and the appropriate ratio and process were obtained by single factor test and orthogonal test. The macroscopic physical properties such as thermal conductivity and porosity of the product and XRD, DSC-TG and SEM microscopic performance tests were carried out. The results show that the CaCO3 content is 2%, the fly ash content is 10%, the foaming temperature is 875 °C, and the foaming time is 30 min. The thermal conductivity of the obtained foam glass can reach 0.050 W/(m•k). When the fly ash content is 20%, the compressive strength of the foam glass can reach 6.5 MPa.

FABRICATION OF GRANULATED FOAM GLASSES FOR LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE APPLIED FOR THERMAL AND SOUND INSULATION

Granulated foam glass aggregates were fabricated and applied as fillers in lightweight concrete. Soda lime silicate based glass was used as the main raw material in the foam glass process. Firing temperatures in the range of 820-850ºC were suitable for the foaming process. Granulation was processed using a rotary granulator and heated to expand in an electric rotary furnace. Foaming at 840ºC showed overall properties suitable for applying as a filler in lightweight concrete fabrication e.g. low density, high porosity, uniform of pore size. Foam glass granules processed at 840ºC were mixed with cement paste in the ratios of 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol% to study for bulk density, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity and sound absorption. Overall, increasing foam glass content in concrete caused a decrease in bulk density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity coefficient. In contrast, thermal resistance and sound absorption coefficient of the foam glass filled lightweight concretes improved significantly.

РАЗРАБОТКА ТЕХНОЛОГИИ ПОЛУЧЕНИЯ КОМПОЗИЦИОННОГО ТЕПЛОИЗОЛЯЦИОННОГО ПЕНОМАТЕРИАЛА НА ОСНОВЕ ОТХОДОВ АЛЮМОСИЛИКАТНЫХ ГОРНЫХ ПОРОД С ПОМОЩЬЮ СВЧ-НАГРЕВА

The technology of obtaining a composite heat-insulating material — foam glass, by recycling wastes of aluminosilicate rocks of Armenia, such as tuff (of different deposits), perlite and zeolite, bypassing the traditional energy-intensive high-temperature and long production process, using the method of microwave synthesis, which has many advantages compared to ordinary. Sample compositions have been developed and optimal heat treatment modes have been determined depending on the type of rock. In order to ensure the competitiveness of the material, the heat treatment process was carried out in an MWA 268 BL microwave oven in the power range from 90 to 600 W. The volumetric heating characteristic of microwave synthesis makes it possible to obtain a material with a uniform porosity and structure, as well as to significantly reduce the heat treatment time, which improves the quality of products and saves energy. The main properties of the material, such as thermal conductivity and average density, are determined.

Improving the thermal protection characteristics of building enclosing structures of the Samara Academic Drama Theater building

Preservation of the architectural appearance of buildings of historical and cultural heritage is a prerequisite for their energy modernization when performing major repairs or reconstruction. In this regard, it is not possible to use facade systems to reduce heat losses by external walls. The use of internal insulation, as construction practice has shown, quite often led to a violation of the humidity regime of enclosing structures and, as a result, to the formation of dark spots and mold fungi on the internal surfaces. To prevent moisture accumulation in enclosing structures, with internal insulation, only thermal insulation materials with a low coefficient of vapor permeability should be used. The article presents the results of a thermal imaging survey of the facades of the Samara Academic Drama Theater building, which indicate increased heat loss in the basement of the building and the exterior walls made of silicate bricks after reconstruction in 1967. In order to meet modern regulatory requirements for the thermal protection of buildings of historical and cultural heritage, it was proposed to additionally insulate the exterior walls from the inside above the zero mark with foam glass, as well as warm plaster in the basement and basement of the building. Solutions are proposed for the replacement of window structures, entrance doors, coverings and ceilings to increase the energy efficiency of the operated building. When performing the thermophysical calculation of the above-listed enclosing structures, the authors methodology for estimating the plane of possible condensation was applied, which allows for a higher probability of assessing moisture accumulation in them.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon thin film layers on glass, dust, and polyurethane foam surfaces

An investigation was conducted into the dynamic behavior of two polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) naphthalene (NAP) and benzo [ghi]perylene (BghiP) in air and on various surfaces including glass, dust, and polyurethane foam (PUF) to understand their interaction with different media. A confocal fluorescence microscope and an infrared microscope were employed to detect and monitor the concentration-, time-, and temperature-dependent changes of the aromatic NAP and BghiP species on the surfaces. Infrared two-dimensional mapping of the vibrational characteristic peaks was used to track the two PAHs on the surfaces. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to measure the gaseous concentrations. The sorption of NAP and BghiP on the surfaces was estimated using Arizona desert sand fine (ISO 12103-1 A2) dust and organic contaminant household (SRM 2585) dust. The surface-to-air partition coefficients of NAP and BghiP were estimated on the different surfaces of glass, dust, and PUF. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed on dust surfaces based on the Hatcher model to understand the behavior of NAP and BghiP on dust surfaces. The Weschler-Nazaroff model was introduced to predictPAH film accumulation on the surfaces, providing a better understanding of PAH interaction with different environmental media. These findings could contribute to developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impact of PAHs on the environment and human health.

Effect of early densification on foaming process of glass–calcium carbonate mixture

The understanding of relationship between densification and foaming for preparation of foam glasses is still lacking. In this study, 128 powder compacts of glass-CaCO3 mixture were foamed isothermally for different time by varying glass particle size, foaming temperature and initial density of green compacts. The results showed that densification tends to take place in the early stage by viscous flow sintering prior to predominant foaming expansion. Therefore, there exists a critical time at which the maximum apparent density is reached, and it is correlated with both the densification rate and kinetics of CaCO3 decomposition. Such a densification has a minor effect on the minimum apparent density, however, it significantly impacts the evolution of pore structure including pore size and homogeneity, depending on glass particle size. Coarse-particle glass and high load applied on the green compacts, leading to higher green density, is favorable for slow development of pore structure with time. In this case, the foam glasses were endowed with small size of pores and homogeneity. This study provides an insight into how to obtain low apparent density and the optimum microstructure by the interplay between densification and foaming.