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

Abstract

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.