Sustainable glass foams produced from glass bottles and tobacco residue

Abstract

In this work, discarded soda-lime-silica glass bottles and tobacco residue (after oil extraction to produce biodiesel) were prepared in different formulations to obtain glass foams. The formulated compositions were homogenized and uniaxially compacted at 40 MPa then fired at 850 °C and 900 °C for 60 min to investigate the effects of tobacco residue and temperature in thermal and mechanical properties of the glass foams. The results show that glass foams obtained are promising materials for applications where thermal insulation and mechanical strength are desired, with values of 0.087 W.m-1K-1 and 2.1 MPa, respectively for 45% of the tobacco residue that was added to the glass foam and fired at 850 °C. These characteristics occur through a suitable combination of thermal conductivity and compressive strength, showing advantageous properties for applications in sustainable constructions and industrial energy efficiency.