Production of Foam Glass by Waste Glass and Boron Mineral

Abstract

In this study, a foam glass material was produced by using green container glass waste as main component, quartz mining tailings for compositional adjustment, marble powder as a source of CaCO3 for foaming agent and ulexite, a boron oxide mineral, as fluxing agents in the varying amounts of 1, 2 and 3 wt%. The aims of the study were determined as utilisation of different solid wastes in foamed structure and benefication of ulexite for value added products as well as observing fluxing agent characteristics of ulexite. The samples were initially weighed, mixed and uniaxially pressed into pellet shape under 0.65 MPa pressing conditions , and then heated at 850 and 900 °C by applying two different heating rates of 5 and 10 °C/min in a separate processes. The optimal results were obtained with 1 wt% of ulexite addition at 900 °C for 10 °C/min heating rate without having almost no cracking or bedding form. The density value was 0.5389 g/cm3 while porosity was found as 67%. All in all, a foamed glass of this study has enabled to utilize solid wastes towards to circular economy model by creating value added products with ulexite, as well. The experimental results showed that a foamed glass material can successfully be produced. However, porosity percentage should be increased with closed pores to improve heat insulation purposes.