Foamed glass articles and methods of making same and methods of controlling the pH of same within specific limits
AssigneeVitric Corporation
InventorJames C. Andersen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A neutral pH foamed glass article is produced from a mixture of pulverized glass particles, foaming agent, binder, and water, wherein the glass article is heated to remove excess moisture and organic materals, then further heated to cause the foaming agent to emit a foaming gas, thereby causing foaming of the glass article. The foamed glass article is annealed in a controlled cooling fashion to avoid thermal stress, cracking and devitrification. The foamed glass articles may be used as artificial pumice stones in the stone-washed garment industry. Preferably, the mixture contains an amount of lignosulfonate to produce foamed glass having substantially neutral pH values in a range of from about 7.0 to 8.4.
Claims68
A foamed glass article formed by foaming a mixture comprising:
- glass;
- a foaming agent;
- means for controlling the pH of said article;
- and
- a binder;
- said article being substantially pH neutral.
A foamed glass article formed by foaming a mixture comprising:
- glass;
- an amount of foaming agent;
- binder;
- and
- a supplemental pH modifying additive;
- said article having a substantially neutral pH.
A foamed glass article formed by foaming a mixture comprising:
- glass particles;
- and
- an amount of lignosulfonate;
- and
- means for controlling the pH of said article;
- said article having a pH in a range from about 7.0 to 8.4.
An improved foamed glass article comprising:
- glass in the range of about 93% to about 98% by weight;
- and
- means for controlling pH, said means comprising lignosulfonate in the range of about 0.25% to about 6% by weight;
- said article having a pH in a range of from about 7.0 to 8.4.
An improved foamed glass article formed by foaming a mixture comprising glass, a foaming agent, and a binder, said improvement comprising means for controlling the pH of the foamed glass article within a neutral range of about 7.0 to 8.4, said means for controlling comprising lignosulfonate in the range of about 0.25% to about 6% by weight.
A method of producing a substantially pH neutral foamed glass article comprising the steps of:
- (a) pulverizing glass particles and mixing with the pulverized glass particles an amount of foaming agent, binder, water, and a means for controlling the pH of the article to produce a glass particle mixture;
- (b) forming the glass particle mixture into a glass article;
- (c) heating the glass article to a first elevated temperature and for a time to substantially remove moisture and excess organic material from the glass article;
- (d) further heating the glass article to a second elevated temperature and for a time to cause the glass particles to fuse and substantially all of the foaming agent to emit a foaming gas emission;
- and
- (e) cooling the glass article to produce said substantially pH neutral foamed glass article.
A method of producing a substantially pH neutral foamed glass article comprising the steps of:
- (a) pulverizing glass particles and foaming a glass particle mixture by mixing with the pulverized glass particle an amount of foaming agent, binder, water and a supplemental pH modifying additive in an amount effective to control pH of said particle mixture;
- (b) forming the glass particle mixture into a glass article;
- (c) heating the glass article to a first elevated temperature and for a time to remove moisture and excess organic materials from the glass article;
- (d) further heating the glass article to a second elevated temperature and for a time to cause substantially all of the foaming agent to emit a foaming gas emission;
- and
- (e) cooling the glass article to produce said substantially pH neutral foamed glass article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.