Expanded glass production from recycled sources

Glass foams offer a sustainable pathway for upcycling glass waste, leveraging their unique combination of low weight, thermal insulation, and mechanical strength. Our research demonstrates the feasibility of producing low-density foamed glass using 90-98% post-consumer container glass waste combined with 2-10% expanding agents derived from textile fiber waste and spent alkaline batteries. The process involves heating a finely powdered mixture in a ventilated furnace at 800-900°C for 15 to 60 minutes. The resulting foams exhibit densities of 200-400 kg/m3, porosity of 80-90%, thermal conductivity values of 80-120 mW/m·K, noise reduction coefficients of 0.15-0.40, and compressive strengths ranging from 1 to 11 MPa. These properties can be tailored by adjusting composition, foaming agent content, and processing conditions. Although these foams may not rival polymer-based insulators or mineral wool in thermal performance, they represent a competitive and environmentally attractive alternative for applications requiring moderate insulation, mechanical strength, non-flammability, and high-temperature resistance. Importantly, the exclusive use of recycled raw materials minimizes energy consumption and resource depletion compared to conventional material production