Effect of Microstructure on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Foam Glass made by Soda Lime-CRT Glasses and Aluminium Dross

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. ... mehrThis property makes
foam glass an excellent thermal insulator. Furthermore, both high-absorption (open porosity) and low-absorption
(closed porosity) foam glasses were successfully produced.