Formation of Cellular-Structure Material From Automotive Glass Waste and Sawdust

• Published in: Materials and manufacturing processes 2013-06, Vol.28 (6), p.616-620
• Main Authors: Francis, A. A., Abdel Rahman, M. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Compressive; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Glass; Glasses (including metallic glasses); Materials science; Microstructure; Physics; Porous; Recycling; Specific materials; Waste
• ISSN: 1042-6914; 1532-2475
• DOI: 10.1080/10426914.2013.763975

The automotive industry is perceived as a producer of a wide range of numerous recyclable materials. Various proportions of glass automotive waste and sawdust as pore-forming agent were prepared with the aim of producing glass-based foams. Impacts of sintering conditions and additions of sawdust on microstructural evolution and physical properties of the derived glass-based foams were characterized by various techniques. Specimens made of 60% glass and 40% sawdust showed the best results at 650°C in terms of density and microstructure development. The dense microstructure at 700°C is attributed to the closure of surface pores by a viscous flow sintering mechanism. The variation of the compressive strength from 0.64 to 26.6 MPa depends on the density and sintering temperature of specimens. Two failure modes for the cellular-structure materials were identified: one is characterized by structural collapse of pore struts at 650°C and the other by layered crushing at 700°C. The present findings showed a convenient way to treat glass automotive waste, transforming it into lightweight porous products to be used as catalyst supports or for structural and other specialized applications.