LIGHTWEIGHT CERAMIC PRODUCTS USING CRUSHED FOAM GLASS

Improving the efficiency of ceramic bricks and stones is associated with a reduction in the average density of the prod-ucts and their corresponding thermal conductivity. One possible approach is to create pores in the ceramic structure using burnout additives or by introducing special foams during the preparation of the ceramic mixture. Another possibility involves introducing ultra-lightweight aggregates, such as crushed foam glass, into the structure. The article presents the results of the implementation of this technology and digital experiments that establish the relationship between the recipe characteristics and the properties of the fired ceramic material. The use of digital methods allows us to significantly reduce the time and material costs of conducting field experiments, as well as to use methods for assessing the reliability of the results obtained. As a result of the experiment and processing of its results, a nomogram was obtained with the help of which it became possible to solve both the prognostic problem (predicting the properties of products) and the problem of selecting the composition of the initial clay mixtures. Samples fired at 1000–1005 °C had an average density of 1300 kg/m³; compressive strength of 14.5 MPa; thermal conductivity of 0.16 W/(m‧°C). Lightweight brick can be used in thermally efficient masonry walls, but its use in foundations is not recommended.