Process for preparing foam glass insulation

Abstract

Abstract A PROCESS FOR PREPARING FOAMED GLASS COMPRISING HEATING UNDER PRESSURE A GLASS OR GLASSES IN ADMIXTURE WITH A VAPORIZABLE METAL OR A VAPORIZABLE SALT, SAID HEATING BEING CONDUCTED TO A TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THE MIXTURE OF GLASS AND METAL OR GLASS AND SALT HAS A VISCOSITY OF ABOUT 10**3 TO 10**5 POISES AND THE METAL OR SALT EXERTS A VAPOR PRESSURE OF ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 50 P.S.I. IN EXCESS OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, RELEASING THE PRESSURE ON THE GLASS MIXTURE SUCH THAT THE METAL OR SALT VAPORIZES TO FORM A FOAMED GLASS, AND COOLING THE FOAMED GLASS. PREFERABLY, THE HEATING IS CARRIED OUT IN A VERTICAL FURNACE WITH THE PRESSURE SUPPLIED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE GLASS MIXTURE CONTAINED IN THE FURNACE, THE RAW MATERIALS BEING CHARGED TO THE TOP OF THE FURNACE AND THE MOLTEN MIXTURE OF GLASS AND METAL OR GLASS AND SALT BEING WITHDRAWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FURNACE. IF A SALT IS EMPLOYED, IT IS ONE WHICH IS RELATIVELY UNREACTIVE WITH THE GLASS AND IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY SOLUBLE IN THE GLASS TO LOWER ITS VIXCOSITY AT THE HEATING TEMPERATURE EMPLOYED IN THE PROCESS.

Inventors

• 👤 Aaron Goldsmith

Bibliographic Details