NONCONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUE OF SINTERING/ FOAMING THE GLASS WASTE USING A LIQUID CARBONIC FOAMING AGENT

Abstract

The paper presents experimental results of the manufacture by a microwave heating technique of a fine porosity lightweight glass foam with high compression strength (up to 5.8 MPa) using a liquid carbonic foaming agent (glycerol) associated with "water glass" and water. The advantage of using the microwave irradiation was evidenced by the very low specific energy consumption (0.81-0.88 kWh/ kg) at the level of the lowest consumption obtained in industrial production by conventional techniques of similar products. Considering that a high power microwave equipment (industrial type) could have a higher energy efficiency (up to 25%) compared to the experimental oven, the superiority of the tested nonconventional method is theoretically obvious.