Preparation and characterization of foams from sheet glass and fly ash using carbonates as foaming agents

Glass foams were produced using sheet glass cullet and fly ashes from thermal power plant with added carbonates (commercial dolomite- and calcite-based sludges) as foaming agents. The influence of type and amount of carbonates as well as of the sintering temperature on the apparent density, compressive strength, microstructure and crystalline phases was evaluated. The experimental results showed that homogenous microstructures of large pores could be obtained by adding just 1–2 wt.% carbonates and using low sintering temperature (850 °C), leading to foams presenting apparent density and compressive strength values of about 0.36–0.41 g/cm3 and 2.40–2.80 MPa, respectively. Good correlations between compressive strength, apparent density and microstructure (pore size, struts’ thickness and internal porosity) were observed.