Foam glass : the advantages and disadvantages of the material

production of foamed glass

Made the material with an average temperature of + 800-900 ° C.In the production process used caking mountain rocks and waste glass.Subsequently, all blowing agents in the foams.Thus prepared and foamed glass.The very process of manufacturing is a technically challenging task.That is why the product is not cheap.

Depending on what types of materials were used in the production of foam glass isolated or closed with communicating pores.Their size may vary from 0.2 to 0.5 mm.The finished foam glass produced in the form of pellets or blocks.While the first is much cheaper than the second.The average density of the material is 100-220 kg / m3.The thermal conductivity of the foam glass is much higher than that of aerated concrete, it is applied at t from -200 to +400 ° C.

Scope foam glass

properties of this material allow its use in almost all areas of construction.However, the main trend is still sound and heat insulation of residential, industrial and commercial premises.For example, it is possible to insulate homes, garages, basements, saunas, roofing.Also, foam glass blocks are often mounted in the base of the building with waterproofing.

And indeed used in the construction of any complex underground structures.These may include a heat pipes and basins, port facilities.In addition to the blocks wide popular granulated foamed glass.It is added in the manufacture of concrete, various fillings, plaster and other building mixtures.Often it is a good replacement for expanded clay.

Summarizing the above, we can say that the foam glass block mainly used for insulation of walls, floors, basement, pipes, and granular often used for roof insulation, as well as during the preparation of various compositions.

Foam glass: characteristics and properties

Foamglass - material that is produced in the form of blocks of the overall size of 125-600 mm in width of 20-120 mm in thickness, 125-1200 mm in length.Also insulating cylinder manufactured with a wall thickness of about 50 mm.The most popular size blocks 450h550 mm and a thickness of 20, 40, 60, 80 mm.As with any building material, foam glass has its pros and cons.On the positive properties include:

• durability. This material can be used for 100 years, can withstand sudden changes in temperature, erosion, oxidation, deformation, and more.
• High resistance to biological and chemical attack. not a medium for the development of mold, fungi and other microorganisms.And also not affected by chemicals, except hydrofluoric acid.
• strength. Sometimes the material can carry some of the load on the design due to its physical properties.Compressive strength is much higher than that of the foam.
• dimensional stability.Thanks honeycomb structure of the blocks do not shrink.That is why the achieved constancy of size and general physical forms.
• Moisture and non-hygroscopicity. fabric structure is such that the cells are geometrically impervious and therefore do not pass into the water.
• Environmental cleanliness. It is because the construction materials used in buildings where there are high hygienic requirements (hospitals, food industry).
• Fire. Foam glass - non-combustible material.During the propagation of the flame does not emit any harmful substances.

If we talk about the disadvantages of foam glass, it is heavy, expensive production, low resistance to mechanical (shock) influences.In particular, the last parameter is negative, as it loses some of its properties in case of damage of the material (eg, moisture).