US3870496A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of creating a foamed glass product from waste glass
Assignee: University of Utah
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Filing: 1973-09-12
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of creating a foamed glass product from glass material such as waste glass by first modifying the glass structure with hydroxide (OH) groups and thereafter softening the glass with heat and releasing the hydroxide groups to thereby foam the glass. Glass structure is readily modified by suitably reacting it with water or some other hydroxide group (OH) furnishing medium. The modified glass is foamed by first heating to soften the same and second, to cause the release of the hydroxide modifier groups. The released hydroxide modifier groups react to form water vapor which in turn causes the softened glass to foam. Release of the hydroxide groups from the glass structure also raises the temperature at which the glass softens with the result that the water vapor thus formed is trapped in the stiffened glass to thereby form a stiffened cellular glass product.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan B Cutler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:57
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C1/00; C03C1/002; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/08; C03C11/00; C03C11/007; C03C23/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of producing a foamed glass product comprising the steps of: obtaining a finely divided glass; lowering the softening temperature of thE glass from a first, higher softening temperature to a lower, second softening temperature by reacting the glass with a hydroxide group furnishing medium selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, and ammonium hydroxide by autoclaving the glass and medium at a temperature below the softening temperature of the glass thereby reacting the glass structure with the hydroxide groups; removing the glass from the autoclave; heating the glass under substantially atmospheric pressure to the second lower, softening temperature thereby releasing the hydroxide groups from the glass structure and forming water vapor to obtain foaming of the softened glass, the softening temperature of the glass being raised by the release of the hydroxide groups thereby stiffening the glass and entrapping the water vapor therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of producing a foamed glass product comprising the steps of: obtaining a finely divided glass; lowering the softening temperature of thE glass from a first, higher softening temperature to a lower, second softening temperature by reacting the glass with a hydroxide group furnishing medium selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, and ammonium hydroxide by autoclaving the glass and medium at a temperature below the softening temperature of the glass thereby reacting the glass structure with the hydroxide groups; removing the glass from the autoclave; heating the glass under substantially atmospheric pressure to the second lower, softening temperature thereby releasing the hydroxide groups from the glass structure and forming water vapor to obtain foaming of the softened glass, the softening temperature of the glass being raised by the release of the hydroxide groups thereby stiffening the glass and entrapping the water vapor therein.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of creating a foamed glass product comprising the steps of: obtaining a finely divided waste glass; reacting the molecular structure of the glass with hydroxide groups thereby lowering the softening temperature of the glass from a first, higher softening temperature to a second, lower softening temperture; heating the glass to the lower softening temperature but below the melting point of the unmodified glass to thereby soften the modified glass and release the hydroxide groups from the structure of the glass, the hydroxide groups combining to form water vapor; foaming the softened glass with the water vapor while raising the softening temperature of the glass by releasing the hydroxide groups from the glass molecular structure; and cooling the foamed glass.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of creating a foamed glass product comprising the steps of: obtaining a finely divided waste glass; reacting the molecular structure of the glass with hydroxide groups thereby lowering the softening temperature of the glass from a first, higher softening temperature to a second, lower softening temperture; heating the glass to the lower softening temperature but below the melting point of the unmodified glass to thereby soften the modified glass and release the hydroxide groups from the structure of the glass, the hydroxide groups combining to form water vapor; foaming the softened glass with the water vapor while raising the softening temperature of the glass by releasing the hydroxide groups from the glass molecular structure; and cooling the foamed glass.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
121 words
A METHOD OF CREATING A FOAMED GLASS PRODUCT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: OBTAINING A FINELY DIVIDED WASTE GLASS; REACTING THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE GLASS WITH HYDROXIDE GROUPS THEREBY LOWERING THE SOFTENING TEMPERATURE OF THE GLASS FROM A FIRST, HIGHER SOFTENING TEMPERATURE TO A SECOND, LOWER SOFTENING TEMPERTURE; HEATING THE GLASS TO THE LOWER SOFTENING TEMPERATURE BUT BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF THE UNMODIFIED GLASS TO THEREBY SOFTENING THE MODIFIED GLASS AND RELEASE THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE GLASS, THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS COMBINING TO FORM WATER VAPOR; FOAMING THE SOFTENED GLASS WITH THE WATER VAPOR WHILE RAISING THE SOFTENING TEMPERATURE OF THE GLASS BY RELEASING THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS FROM THE GLASS MOLECULAR STRUCTURE; AND COOLING THE FOAMED GLASS.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
121 words
A METHOD OF CREATING A FOAMED GLASS PRODUCT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: OBTAINING A FINELY DIVIDED WASTE GLASS; REACTING THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE GLASS WITH HYDROXIDE GROUPS THEREBY LOWERING THE SOFTENING TEMPERATURE OF THE GLASS FROM A FIRST, HIGHER SOFTENING TEMPERATURE TO A SECOND, LOWER SOFTENING TEMPERTURE; HEATING THE GLASS TO THE LOWER SOFTENING TEMPERATURE BUT BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF THE UNMODIFIED GLASS TO THEREBY SOFTENING THE MODIFIED GLASS AND RELEASE THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE GLASS, THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS COMBINING TO FORM WATER VAPOR; FOAMING THE SOFTENED GLASS WITH THE WATER VAPOR WHILE RAISING THE SOFTENING TEMPERATURE OF THE GLASS BY RELEASING THE HYDROXIDE GROUPS FROM THE GLASS MOLECULAR STRUCTURE; AND COOLING THE FOAMED GLASS.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |