Influence of heating rate on the microstructure of glass foams.

In the present study, glass foams made of ground soda-lime glass obtained from transparent glass bottles and dolomite were investigated. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the influence of the heating rate on the microstructure of the obtained material and on its properties. The technological characterization of the ceramic bodies involved the determination of the volumetric expansion and average diameter of the pore. The microstructure was investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results showed that the heating rate influenced both the volumetric expansion and the average diameter of the pore. Lower heating rates resulted in lower volumetric expansions since more CO(2) escaped from within the ceramic body.