Particulars of Foam Glass Manufacture from Zeolite-Alkali Batch.

The particulars of thermally activated foaming of zeolite-alkali batch are examined. It is found that carbonation of free NaOH with formation of hydrated sodium-carbonate — Na ₃[CO ₃][HCO ₃] ⋅ 2H ₂O — occurs in dry granular batch kept in air. The same process also occurs with NaOH occluded by in-crystalline pores and zeolite channels. Sodium carbonate contained in in-crystalline pores and zeolite channels comprises an additional source of foaming agent — CO ₂. This makes it possible to obtain foam glass with density 100 – 150 kg/m ³ from zeolite-containing rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]