Foam glass is the "golden" eternal insulation. Foam glass large overview of the material Gabidullin article foam glass

Granulated foam glass, as it is presented in the form of a modern heat-insulating material, which is characterized by a high degree of versatility of use.

Granular foam glass (produced by Baugran or any other brand), due to the almost zero coefficient of thermal conductivity and the widest range of application possibilities, is rightfully considered one of the best heaters for the floor of the walls and the roof of the house.

1 Material features

A particle of foam glass in a granule, which is pressed into blocks, has found wide application in the process of insulation various parts Houses.

A small part of foam glass in a granule, which forms building blocks, can be used to insulate the walls of frame-type buildings.

At the same time, Baugran blocks are able to retain heat better than ordinary brick blocks. Characteristics of foam glassBaugran allow the walls insulated with it to be absolutely soundproof. Alternative use of Baugran foam glass, as well as in general, is relevant for:

• Strengthening the insulation of the walls of the building;
• Making layouts for exhibitions;
• Reconstruction of historical monuments;
• Creating walls around the perimeter of the building;
• Prevention of the formation of cold bridges;
• Fastening facade plates and panels;
• Providing insulation by filling hollow walls.

Technology, with an orientation on which the production of foam glass is carried outBaugran, implies the multi-purpose application of the presented product.

The technical characteristics of Baugran granulated foam glass determine the use of the material for the purpose of high-quality insulation of walls and all kinds of ceilings, because in connection with this, heating costs will be significantly reduced.

The use of granular foam glass brand Baugran, coupled with allows to reduce the cost construction works. In Russian climatic conditions, which are characterized by sharp temperature changes, high levels of humidity granulated foam glass, pressed into blocks, is considered to be one of the most durable materials.

The technical characteristics of the material indicate an almost unlimited service life. The most significant advantages of granular foam glass are:

• High degree of resistance to oscillating temperature conditions;
• Resistance to the harmful effects of erosion and chemical environments;
• High thermal insulation performance;
• Hygienic and environmental safety;
• Long operational period;
• resistance to burning;
• Waterproof like ;
• Convenience in the implementation of mechanical processing;
• Resistance to mechanical damage and shrinkage.

All the characteristics of granulated foam glass allow us to consider it a sufficiently high-quality heat-insulating material, the use of which is relevant in any climatic zone.

In addition, its characteristics indicate that throughout its long service life, the material does not lose its basic qualities and properties.

Blocks, provided that their physical integrity is maintained, can last for many decades. The use of foam glass can significantly increase the reliability parameter of the entire structure.

The technology allows the use of the material in cases where it is simply not possible to use other heaters.

2 Production technology and types produced

Foam glass (Baugran or any other), as it is produced with a focus on industrial way in compliance with all necessary quality standards.

In most cases, glass production waste is used as a raw material. The use of quartz sand, soda and limestone is also relevant.

Silicate glass, which is in a crushed state, is artificially saturated with carbon. Coke, dolomite, chalk, anthracite are added to it.

In the oven, the raw material is heated to a temperature of +900°C, after which it foams and undergoes slow cooling.

The result is a solid cellular glass mass. In this case, the foam glass cells can have a closed, round or hexagonal shape.

Sizes range from fractions of a millimeter to a centimeter. Porosity index finished material can range from 80 to 90%.

In the process of gas formation and active foaming, the nominal volume of glass increases by 10-15 times. Foam glass can be presented in the form:

• and plates;
• Loose insulation;
• Molded insulation;
• Foam glass crumbs.

Foam glass blocks and slabs are used in all construction areas and can be combined with all kinds of materials.

When the blocks are subjected to mechanical filing, waste is formed, which is presented in the form of foam glass crumbs. Foam glass is produced in granules, which have different diameters.

2.1 Product specifications

The material has a high degree of strength. At the same time, it exhibits a low degree of thermal conductivity and is not amenable to mechanical compression.

If the material is formed in the form of plates or blocks, then they practically do not shrink and continue to retain such indicators as strength, thermal conductivity and water absorption capacity.

Even over time, structures made using foam glass do not change their original dimensions as a result of the impact of operational loads.

Foam glass is able to withstand temperatures from -200 to +400 ° C without harm to the internal structure.

At the same time, the product demonstrates an absolute degree of water resistance. Along with this, it lends itself easily to gluing and rough machining.

The material exhibits a high degree of chemical resistance and is non-toxic. In granular foam glass, rodents, insects or fungus. More detailed specifications are expressed in terms of:

• Bulk density of HPS - no more than 200 kg / m3;
• The average density of granules is 345 gk / m3;
• Porosity of granules in 86%;
• Thermal conductivity in bulk at +200°C from 0.06 to 0.068 W/m;
• Water absorption by volume - 1.7 - 4%;
• Tensile strength of 0.5 - 1.1 MPa;
• Shape factor of granules in 5-40 mm as in ;
• Frost resistance weight loss - within 15 cycles.

The disadvantages are in the rather high cost compared to other types of heaters.

Foam glass- modern thermal insulation material obtained by treating silicate glass and a blowing agent (usually coal, anthracite, coke, soot) at high temperatures, about 1000 ○ C.

The foaming process is accompanied by an increase in glass volume by 14...15 times compared to the original. V European countries Foam glass materials have long been recognized and one of the most effective heat-shielding building materials.

Thermal insulation material - foam glass: characteristics and scope

The thermal insulation properties of foam glass are determined by the presence in its structure of a huge number of closed bubbles filled with air or carbon dioxide. Foam glass materials consist only of glass and gas (air, carbon dioxide) and their chemical composition identical to composition ordinary glass used by us in everyday life:

• silicon oxide;
• calcium oxide;
• magnesium oxide;
• potassium oxide;
• sodium oxide;
• aluminium oxide.

The foam glass structure has the form of a honeycomb (photo 1), which provides a relatively high strength of the material, taking into account the small size of the bubbles and the thickness of their walls (the average bubble diameter is 2000 microns, and the thickness of the bubble walls is 20 ... 100 microns).

Foam glass as a heat-insulating material has been developed for a long time and has been industrially produced since the 50s ... 60s of the last century. Initially, due to the high cost, this material was not widely used. Only after the improvement of production technology, the reduced cost of foam glass gave it a "second wind", although even now its cost is also not cheap. Foam glass has high physical and chemical properties, which cause a constant growing demand.

Here are the main characteristics of foam glass

• thermal conductivity of foam glass - 0.045 ... 0.060 W / m∙K;
• material density - 120 ... 140 kg / m 3 (relatively light heat-insulating material);
• the material is airtight;
• water absorption - no more than 2.5 ... 5% or surface absorption - no more than 0.5 kg / m 2;
• water insoluble material;
• compressive strength - 0.4 ... 1.2 MPa, and some blocks of foam glass can have a strength of 4 ... 24 MPa (depending on the brand of foam glass);
• the material is vapor-tight;
• modulus of elasticity - 800 MN / m 2;
• noise absorption - up to 60 dB (it is determined that a wall thickness of 10 cm from foam glass is able to isolate the room from noise levels up to 56 dB);
• operating temperature range of foam glass material – from -200 ○ С to +500 ○ С;
• foam glass is non-combustible material(in the middle of the last century, foam glass was used to insulate roofs and ceilings on very important buildings: nuclear power plant buildings, hotels high class, which were subject to particularly high requirements for fire safety);
• insulation resistant to chemicals;
• ecological material (non-toxic), does not emit harmful substances, including at high temperatures in case of fire;
• biostable material (not food and housing for rodents, insects, insects), the material does not rot;
• low coefficient of thermal expansion (0.9 10 -6 K);
• the material does not shrink;
• the material is not hygroscopic (does not get wet when in a humid environment);
• It has high adhesion to most building materials: plasters, concretes, bituminous mastics, etc.;
• high durability (more than 100 years).

The main feature of foam glass is that this material has constant high thermal properties, which do not change almost throughout the entire period of its operation. So tests of foam glass building materials after 50 ... 60 years of operation showed that its characteristics have not changed at all, which cannot be said about many other heat-insulating materials.

In practice, this material has no drawbacks, except for one - high cost (compared to other heat-insulating materials).

Foam glass building materials are produced in the form of:

• plates in size: width - 450 mm, length - 600 mm, thickness - 60, 80, 100, 120 mm;
• blocks size: 125÷450×125÷550 mm, thickness 20÷120 mm;
• crumbs (spherical granules).

Thermal insulation blocks and slabs of foam glass - scope

With the help of foam glass plates and blocks, they perform sound and heat insulation of socles, blind areas, foundations, various underground structures, insulate the facade, internal and external walls of high-rise buildings and structures, roofs (flat, pitched), photo 3.

Scope of foam glass

In table. one useful data on the sizes of foam glass blocks, their mass and volume are presented.

Foam glass crumb - scope

The crumb is produced from the same raw materials as blocks or plates in the form of granules of various fractions: 0 ... 5 mm; 5…7 mm; 7…20 mm.

The crumb is produced directly, or is formed by cutting large foam slabs into blocks. The crumb is used as a bulk heat-insulating material, in the construction of external walls with a layer and in the insulation of old houses. Also, with the help of foam glass crumbs, floors and roofs are insulated, photo 4, 5.

Foam glass crumb

Foam glass is also used for insulation of pipelines with a diameter of up to 1420 mm, transitions, tees, with a heating temperature of up to 500 ○ C, photo 6.

And in conclusion, instead of deriving, we give comparative characteristics some thermal insulation materials and foam glass to truly appreciate this unique material(cm. tab. 2).

Konev Alexander Anatolievich

Anyone who follows the achievements of building science will never lose. This is where lies a powerful resource for reducing costs, increasing energy efficiency, quality and speed of housing construction. A good example is foam glass.

This interesting stuff with great potential can only be conditionally called a novelty in the construction market. It was invented in the 30s of the last century in the USSR, and practical use came up with later - in 1946 in Canada. Foam glass went into mass construction only half a century later, when the costs of its production were reduced and the technology was thoroughly worked out.

What is foam glass?

The combination of two different substances in one material always gives an interesting result. This happened with foam glass. classic silicate glass that stands in our windows is a transparent, very hard and fragile material. Foam is a weightless, “ephemeral substance”. Its basis is a gas, the bubbles of which are held together by the thinnest layers of liquid by the force of surface tension.

You ask, is it possible to connect the incompatible? It turns out you can. The production of foam glass consists in heating a silicate mass, into which a gas-forming substance is introduced. Under the action of high temperature, the raw material melts, and the blowing agent decomposes, releasing the smallest bubbles. Caught by the hot melt, they are like "flies in amber" forever remain in it.

As a result, the material receives unique properties:

• Ease;
• Strength;
• chemical inertness;
• Waterproof;
• Heat resistance and incombustibility.

The material inherits some of the listed properties from silicate glass, and some of it is obtained from gas microcapsules. Foam glass loses transparency, but it acquires excellent thermal insulation and acoustic characteristics.

Specifications

The foamed glass density is very low (100-250 kg/m3). How little this is, you can judge by comparing it with the density of dry wood (550-750 kg/m3). It is no coincidence that after the invention, foam glass was tried to be used as a floating building material.

The compressive strength of such a light substance is surprisingly high. It withstands pressure up to 40 to 100 tons per 1 m2. Other technical characteristics of foam glass also inspire optimism for everyone who plans to use it.

Thermal conductivity at room temperature— 0.04 W/m*S. Even dry wood conifers retains heat twice worse (0.09 W / m * C). The ability to dampen sound waves from cellular glass is comparable to mineral wool (45-56 dB).

Water absorption of foam glass blocks - 2% of the volume. Speaking more plain language They practically do not absorb water. Their vapor permeability is close to zero (0.005 mg / (m.h.Pa). This is an ideal rigid vapor barrier.

In terms of resistance to high temperatures, foamed glass also looks decent. Of course, this is not fireclay, but even a standard porous glass block can withstand + 300C without signs of destruction. Special additives raise the heat resistance of the material up to +1000 C. low temperatures foam glass is not afraid, withstanding extreme contact with liquid nitrogen (-200 C).

A very valuable quality of this material is its high chemical inertness and the associated environmental friendliness. There are few modern heaters, as safe and non-toxic. Polymer compositions age rather quickly, losing their physical qualities and poisoning environment. Polymers and flammability, organic insulation and toxicity are almost synonymous. From this point of view, foamed glass is much better than styrofoam, polypropylene and PVC plastics.

Durability is another plus that cellular glass attracts developers. The service life of 100 years speaks for itself.

The biological stability of glass foam blocks is incomparably higher than that of organic heaters. It is not for rodents. Mold and fungus will also not find a cozy place in it, since the material does not absorb water.

The chemical inertness of foamed glass is very high. Acids and alkalis, aggressive gases and oil products - all together and each separately, they will not cope with such a heater.

It will not take long to list the disadvantages of foam glass. The high price is what first of all confuses ordinary developers in it. It is explained by the fact that the manufacturing technology of this material is associated with high energy costs. Its annealing (slow cooling) is a complex and time-consuming process. If we evaluate the blocks of foamed glass according to the "price-durability" ratio, then they will win in comparison with similar indicators of other heaters.

The second disadvantage is low impact strength. It cannot be called critical, since the insulation in the structures does not experience shocks, and the streets are not yet paved with foam glass.

Application

Particularly valuable is the fact that cellular glass combines high strength and heat-insulating ability.

We are all used to the fact that the harder the material, the more it conducts heat. Here it's the other way around. It's hard effective insulation on which you can ride truck. Therefore, the use of foam glass is primarily associated with thermal insulation. bearing walls, cellars and pipelines.

Cellular glass has a thermal deformation coefficient close to concrete and brick, so it can be used to veneer any kind of structures made from these materials.

Due to its low water absorption, foamed glass is ideal for waterproofing basements and basements of buildings. In consumer reviews, this positive point is most often noted.

In addition to block, they produce granular foam glass. It is cheaper than a monolith and is used as an insulating additive in concrete, as well as a backfill in wall cavities.

Despite the high mechanical strength, foamed glass is easy to process. It is drilled and cut without cracking, easy to glue and holds well. finishing compositions(putty and plaster).

Foam glass is used not only for insulation building structures. It can be found in buildings industrial refrigerators and technological equipment operating at elevated temperatures.

Exterior finish foam glass also deserves attention. Besides original look it reliably solves the problem of protection against aggressive atmospheric factors (cold, heat and precipitation).

Attention! Low-quality "analogues" of foam glass

Speaking of this material, one cannot fail to mention its cheap "analogue", with light hand manufacturers also called foam glass. In fact, it is not made from standard solid raw materials by firing, but from liquid soda-potassium glass.

Substances that actively absorb water are added to this substance. As a result, liquid glass foams and then hardens. The process takes place at a temperature of +100 - +200C. Even an inexperienced person understands that such a material, in principle, cannot be durable and waterproof. In fact, this is an ordinary stationery glue with gas bubbles.

At the slightest soaking, it flows, and mechanical strength ten times weaker than the classic porous material. Therefore, insulation with foam glass of this type (it is sometimes called "vapor-permeable") cannot be called profitable.

The only advantage that manufacturers are trying to attract consumers with is low cost (2-3 times lower than that of conventional foam glass).

Estimated prices

Speaking about prices for foam glass, we will single out three main forms of its production. This material is produced in blocks, slabs, in the form of shaped products (volumetric shells) and crumbs (granules and crushed stone).

Block and slab foam glass is used as a rigid waterproofing insulation. Shells made of cellular glass are used for insulation of pipelines. The granules are used for heat-insulating backfill, and are also used as a filler for plasters and lightweight concrete.

The most common size of cellular glass plates is 600x450 mm. Their thickness is in the range from 3 to 12 cm (step 1 cm).

Block and shaped material has the highest cost. Depending on the manufacturer, it can be bought at a price of 9,000 to 16,000 per 1 m3.

The cheapest are crumbs (fraction 0-7 mm) and crushed stone (8-20 mm) from foamed glass, since they belong to the category of technological waste. They can be purchased at a price of 5,000 rubles/m3.

Foam glass (foamed glass, cellular glass)- environmentally friendly and durable insulation (heat-insulating material). It is produced by heating glass to a temperature of 700-1000 degrees Celsius, as well as adding a blowing agent. The result is a foamed glass mass similar to solid soap suds with cells in the form of spheres or pyramids (spherical and hexagonal cells). Foam glass has high thermal and sound insulation properties. Unlike many other heaters, foam glass is not afraid of moisture and is even able to float on water. Foam glass can be used to insulate walls, floors and roofs.

Since, in addition to glass and a blowing agent, manufacturers can add various impurities to foam glass, the color of the resulting product can be from light brown and blue to black. In addition to color, the characteristics of foam glass from different manufacturers also differ. In particular, some types of foam glass have greater vapor conductivity and / or better thermal insulation properties. And some types of foam glass are so strong that they can be used as a thermal insert under bearing wall. In addition to the advantages used in the production of foam glass, for example, an outdated production technology may also have disadvantages, such as the release of hydrogen sulfide during the operation of foam glass.

Types of foam glass:

• granulated foam glass (gravel, crushed stone, sand),


• block foam glass (blocks, plates and shells from foam glass).

Russian manufacturers of foam glass:

• (ICM Glass / ICMGlass, Kaluga region). Foam glass crushed stone (PSShch).


• / Saitaks (Dmitrovsky plant of innovative heat-insulating materials and composites, Moscow region). Granulated foam glass (gravel and crushed stone), granulated ceramic foam, plaster and masonry mixture based on foam glass. The granules contain hydrogen sulfide.


• ("STES-VLADIMIR", Vladimir). Thermal insulation boards, shaped products(shells, segments, knees), fractional heat-insulating crushed stone.


• (Moscow region). Granulated foam glass.


• (Krasnoyarsk). Foam glass plates.


• (LLC "Novouralsk plant of heat-insulating products TEZIZ", Sverdlovsk region). Plate foam glass thorn-groove, foam glass crumb. Foam glass Thesis is not clean, contains an astringent component, due to which vapor permeability is carried out.


• (CJSC "Modis", Yaroslavl region). Granulated foam glass.


• (LLC "Penokam", Perm). Plate (block) and granulated foam glass (gravel, crushed stone, sand).


• (LLC "SBKT", Tula region) - granulated foam glass and foam ceramics.


• (Moscow region) - granulated foam glass, foam glass crushed stone, dry mixes with foam glass, dry filling from foam glass of various fractions.


• (Novgorod region) - granulated foam glass.


• (United Industrial Initiative, Moscow Region). Blocks, plates, shaped products (shells, segments, elbows, boxes) made of foam glass. Imports products of Pittsburgh Corning, in Russia manufactures shells, segments, elbows, conical segments, prefabricated structures.

Belarusian manufacturers of foam glass:

• (JSC "Gomelsteklo"). Block foam glass and foam glass chips.

What other Russian and Belarusian manufacturers also offer foam glass?

When buying foam glass products, be sure to pay attention to the thermal insulation properties and strength characteristics. They can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Advantages of foam glass:

1. Good heat and sound insulation


2. Waterproofing, vapor barrier


3. Environmental friendliness (does not emit toxic substances), sanitary safety


4. Incombustibility, fire safety


5. durability (retains physical properties 80-100 or more years)


6. Wide temperature application range (from extremely low to extremely high temperatures of hundreds of degrees)


7. Does not absorb or accumulate odors


8. Resistant to rodents and pests, tk. does not contain organic compounds


9. Resistant to aggressive media, including acids and organic solvents.


10. Insoluble in water, not eroded by water, allows the construction of floating structures.


11. Dimensional stability (no shrinkage due to rigid, non-shrinking structure)


12. Low coefficient of linear thermal expansion


13. Strength


14. Is not nutrient medium for fungi, mold, microorganisms


15. Broken glass and glass production waste can be used for production

Disadvantages of foam glass:

1. High cost, especially slab foam glass


2. Fragile structure, so it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.


3. Very low vapor conductivity, which in some cases can lead to moisture being trapped between the wall and the insulation, and, as a result, the appearance of fungi and mold is not excluded.


4. Damaged by strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid.


5. Lack of plasticity of the plates (there is a risk of cracking due to the mobility of the base or walls)

Please note that some manufacturers offer foam glass boards, although they contain gypsum, cement, basalt wool,... Of course, such products have little to do with real foam glass, their characteristics can differ significantly. For example, one of Russian manufacturers offers innovative "foam glass" based on soda glass; this material has low strength and limited moisture resistance; it is not an analogue of soda-lime glass. Real foam glass has a melted structure, providing moisture resistance, frost resistance, durability, operational stability, incombustibility, strength and durability. The durability of foam insulators from "liquid" glass drops sharply when exposed to water vapor, because. contains silicates.

Some manufacturers suggest using polyurethane adhesive or bituminous mastic for laying foam glass plates. In the case of its use, environmental friendliness is of course lost.

Andrey Kuryshev in his program "" talked a lot about the merits of environmentally friendly foam glass insulation. Unfortunately, since the program went on the air, this heat-insulating material has risen in price greatly. In this regard, the practice of using foam glass in Russia remains very small.

Insulation with foam glass, especially when used on the facade, must be carried out correctly. In this case, it does not hurt to pay attention to the recommendations of manufacturers. Since foam glass reacts with alkalis, it is strictly forbidden to use cement-based glue for blocks. Foamglas, for example, offers an adhesive based on modified bitumen.

• "Since the outer surface of the material consists of many cut cells, the foam glass is easily and firmly glued with mastics, it is well plastered, combined with aluminosilicate binders (cement, lime-cement mortars)."


• "Three-layer walls. Blocks are recommended to be used as the middle layer of three-layer brick walls made of ceramic or silicate brick on cement-sand or cement-lime mortar, as well as from other small-piece materials, for example, structural lightweight concrete, cellular concrete, aerated concrete, gas silicate, etc."


• "Two-layer walls. Blocks are recommended to be used as thermal insulation of two-layer walls. Insulation is placed directly on the inner surface with glue, mastic or mechanical fixation."

But since foam glass can react with alkalis, and also due to cement shrinkage, these recommendations should be used carefully.

In 2004, the UE "NIPTIS Institute" developed and approved the recommendations "Application of heat-insulating blocks made of foam glass in the insulation of buildings and structures." In them you can find both recommendations for calculating thermal insulation and design recommendations, including those relating to two-layer and three-layer walls, light plaster and heavy plaster, wall insulation from the inside, roof insulation and attic floors, thermal insulation plinths.

Despite the shortcomings of foam glass, if durability, environmental friendliness, fire safety and inertness are needed, then there are practically no alternatives. At the same time, slab foam glass is very expensive. In addition, foam glass is afraid of alkalis, so cement slabs cannot be used. In addition, in the case of slab foam glass, the issue of blocking moisture in a multilayer wall is not solved.

Instead of foam glass plates, you can use a well brickwork with backfilling of foam glass granules or foam glass crushed stone. In addition, foam glass is an ideal heat-insulating material for basements, plinths, ceilings, attics, where its heat-insulating properties are complemented by vapor opacity.

Each person who started thermal insulation at home is interested in the issue of choosing a high-quality insulation material. As you know, you should prepare for winter in advance, since you will hardly succeed in heating walls that are not insulated - thermal energy will leave the room without hindrance. For this reason, you need to solve two problems at once:

1. get a good heater;
2. correctly install it, performing the insulation of the house.

Foam glass used as a heater has not only a slight thermal conductivity, but also a list of other characteristics. Let's get acquainted with the features of this material, its strengths and weaknesses, leading manufacturers and features of the installation.

Foam glass - what is it?

This kind of glass is considered a universal insulating material used in both oil and chemical industry as well as in construction. Roughly speaking, this is foamed glass mass.

In the manufacture of this material, silicate glass is used - at a high temperature (about a thousand degrees), it is softened, and then carbon is passed through it (this substance plays the role of a kind of blowing agent). Thanks to this, the glass mass foams. After the material cools down to 15-20 degrees, it acquires its unique properties.

Note! Foam glass, as well as mineral wool or expanded polystyrene, used for thermal insulation of roofs, facades, walls, floors, etc. It can also be used to insulate balconies and loggias.

Video - Foamed glass

Price

To understand how profitable the purchase of foam glass is, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the average market prices of popular insulating materials on the domestic market. For the convenience of visitors, the data is presented in the form of a small table.

Table. Price comparison of popular heat insulators

Heaters	Cost of 1 m3, rub
Nanoglass in products (plates, blocks)
Foam glass in granules
Styrofoam
Mineral wool
mineral plate
basalt slab
Basalt wool
Expanded clay bulk M400
Nano concrete blocks

How to insulate the facade with polystyrene foam

Earlier we talked about the technology of facade insulation with expanded polystyrene, the advantages of the material and the method of laying the plates, in addition to this article, we advise you to read this information

Disadvantages and weaknesses of foamed glass

Let's make a reservation right away that foam glass has a lot of advantages, it has unique technical specifications. Let's get acquainted with the most significant of them.

1. The material is quite strong and durable.
2. Installing it is quite simple, it is quite possible to cope with the procedure on your own.
3. This heater is non-combustible.
4. It is absolutely safe for the body, both in terms of hygiene and in terms of ecology.
5. It is waterproof, which ensures maximum stability and strength of the entire object.
6. Also this insulation resistant to a variety of aggressive influences.
7. During operation, it does not shrink.
8. Its cost is quite low, so it can compete with other materials.
9. Finally, the heat insulator is resistant to low temperatures.

But foam glass also has some disadvantages, which you should definitely find out about before buying.

1. So, it is quite fragile, as a result of which certain kinds of difficulties may arise during installation.
2. Low aesthetic indicators - the material itself looks, to put it mildly, “not very good”, therefore, it needs further decorative finishing.

Note! If the installation of insulation is carried out in fire hazardous structures, then in without fail polymer cement adhesive should be used, which, as you know, is extremely elastic and has good adhesion.

Main characteristics of the material

Foam glass has, as we noted above, excellent characteristics. Let's get acquainted with key features each of them.

Water and vapor tightness

This material, as we already know, is waterproof. It does not absorb water and does not increase in size, and also reliably protects the structure from leakage. Moreover, it also simultaneously performs the function of a vapor barrier layer. This heat insulator is also durable, it retains its original thermal conductivity throughout its entire service life. And this period, by the way, is equal to the service life of the object itself.

stable dimensions

Due to the low thermal expansion index (especially when compared with foam), close to the coefficient of steel and concrete, which ensures excellent adhesion to the surface, and internal deforming stresses between these insulating layers are excluded in principle. It is also worth noting that the so-called "cold bridges" in this case are also absent.

Strength indicators

Foam glass has a compressive strength of 160 tons per square meter.

Chemical cost

The material is immune to almost all chemicals. The only exception is hydrofluoric acid, which, by the way, is not the most common substance on the planet. Moreover, the properties of the material are not affected by the biological environment, because it is impossible for any life form to develop in it.

It is worth noting that one of the main features of foamed glass is its unique property- other materials do not have this - "obstruction" for insects and rodents. This is, in fact, an excellent abrasive, and in nature there are no biological forms that can grind or gnaw abrasives without causing significant harm to themselves.

Safety

The insulation is safe both in terms of hygiene and in terms of environmental friendliness. The cullet used in its manufacture is 100 percent recyclable material, which can then be recycled into new products.

About combustibility

Foam glass does not burn, under the influence of high temperatures does not emit harmful gases and fumes. If a fire occurs, but the insulator will prevent the spread of flame ( we are talking about the so-called "fireplace effect").

To find out in more detail what foamed glass is, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of one of the most popular brands in this industry.

Table. Foamglas foam glass parameters

Name, unit measurements	Indicators
Density, kg/m3
Compressive strength MPa
Bending strength MPa
Thermal conductivity at 25 C, W
Thermal conductivity under operating conditions A and B, W
Water absorption, %
Vapor permeability, mg/(m*h*Pa)

Features of the production process

In the manufacture of foam glass, generally recognized standards are mandatory. For the manufacture, as noted above, cullet is used or, alternatively, the same materials that are used in the production of ordinary glass (sand, limestone, soda). After grinding, silicate glass is treated with carbon (for this, anthracite, coke, and so on can be added), in order to subsequently foam it when heated. When the material cools down, it acquires the cellular structure required by the standards. The cells themselves here are of a closed type, they can have both a hexagonal and a round shape.

The dimensions of the cells can be different - from tenths of a millimeter to a whole centimeter. As for the porosity of the insulation, here this figure varies between 80-90 percent. It is also worth noting that after foaming, the volume of the material increases by approximately 15 (!) Times.

Varieties of foamed glass

There are several types of foam glass, let's get acquainted with the features of each of them.

1. Insulation made in the form of blocks and slabs.
2. Loose heat insulator made in the form of granules.
3. Molded insulator (this group includes elements of shaped purpose - adapters, couplings, connecting fittings and others).
4. Fight or a crumb of foamed glass.

Plates / blocks can be used in any construction industry, including in tandem with other building materials. When blocks are sawn off during manufacture, the waste remaining is used as foam glass chips. Granular material, as the name suggests, is made in the form of granules with different dimensions - from tenths of a millimeter to several centimeters.

Video - Types and application of foam glass

Scope of the described insulation

Foam glass has a fairly long service life - it is about 100 years. This is an excellent option for isolation in private housing construction. Using it, you can isolate almost any structure, including buildings that differ special requirements to humidity and temperature conditions (for example, baths, pools, etc., as well as fireplaces and chimney structures).

With the help of foamed glass blocks, objects of almost any shape can be thermally insulated, while the climate can be very different. Insulation in granules is cheaper than blocks, but is also somewhat inferior to them in terms of its insulating characteristics. In most layers, granules are used as backfills to insulate roofs, floors, external walls, as well as as a filler in various plaster and masonry mortars.

The crumb, in turn, is an effective loose heat insulator, which has a lot of advantages of foamed glass. With it, you can replace expanded clay or any other loose insulation.

Note! Due to its resistance to high temperatures and chemical attack, foam glass is actively used in the insulation of reaction media and various equipment.

Instructions for using foamed glass as a thermal insulation material

Foamed glass is a universal insulation, which we have already talked about many times. This means that it can be used for a variety of structural elements of objects, let's consider in more detail each of the possible options.

Option number 1. Wall insulation with foam glass

In most cases, walls are insulated with foam glass. As a rule, external insulation is performed, although due to its environmental friendliness, the material may well be used for internal insulation. The installation procedure itself is not complicated and includes the following steps.

Step 1. The surface is prepared first. Dirt, dust, as well as a layer of the previous finishing material(if any).

Step 2 The foam block is treated with a special adhesive (as an option, you can use an ordinary cement mortar instead). It is also worth noting that a hydro or vapor barrier layer is not needed in this case, since the foamed glass does not absorb moisture at all.

Step 3 The block is pressed against the wall as tightly as possible. What is characteristic, additional fasteners are not required here.

Note! The material is very fragile, for this reason it is recommended to use only adhesive composition. If dowels or self-tapping screws are used, the structure of the insulation may be destroyed.

Step 4 A plastering layer is applied over the heat insulator.

If foam glass is used for insulation, then the total weight of the structure is noticeably reduced, therefore, it is not necessary to lay a particularly powerful foundation. This point is especially relevant in cases where country houses are built on swampy soils (next to water bodies) or relatively weak ones.

Option number 2. Floor insulation

The blocks of this insulation do not shrink and are characterized by increased rigidity, which means that they can be used to isolate the floor. The algorithm of actions in this case should be as follows.

Step 1. The base is covered with a thin sandy "cushion" (about 50 millimeters thick).

Step 2 Heat insulator plates are laid on top of the sand.

Step 3 The gaps formed between the plates are blown out with mounting foam.

Step 4 A reinforced concrete screed is installed on top of the insulating layer.

For such a base, the arrangement of the good old plank floor is ideal.

Note! If the insulated floor is located above the basement, then it must be insulated from the inside, that is, from the heated side of the room.

Option number 3. Foundation insulation

Regrettably, but the problem of flooding is relevant for many owners of suburban areas. After all, if there is a high concentration of river organic matter in the soil, then the base and walls of the house will begin to dampen, as a result of which they will delaminate, begin to shrink, rot, and rust. In a word, the building material will be destroyed. Not the best way out from this situation is the frequent holding overhauls. It is preferable to take care of the problem while building the house, and it is better to use foamed glass for this.

If you protect the foundation with this insulation or basement, then this problem will disappear once and for all. After all, foam glass not only protects the structure of building materials, but also provides the most favorable climate in the room itself. This is possible due to the porous structure of the insulation, which remains throughout its entire service life.

Option number 4. Bath insulation

A distinctive feature of the bath room is not only a special, specific microclimate, but also the aggressiveness of the environment caused by increased thermal and humidity indicators. A number of thermal insulators are simply unable to withstand such extreme operating conditions and release fumes that are harmful to human body. But foamed glass can be safely used to protect the bath. The warming procedure itself is carried out in the same way as in the case of household or utility rooms.

Video - Thermal insulation of the house with foam glass. First part

Second part

The third part. External plaster

Fourth part. Interior decoration

Summing up

Experienced experts assure that foam glass has simply unique characteristics that no other insulating material has. Thanks to this, the insulation has enjoyed such great popularity in the construction industry throughout its history (or even almost a century).