Glass foam

1991/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak

The University of Rennes in Brittany has created a new material called Innolite. Researchers have discovered the behavior of some glasses at high temperatures. Molten glass releases nitrogen in the form of gas at an approximate temperature of 1,0003-C, thus obtaining foam glass. The material left after cooling is like souffle.

Rennes experts have used recycled glass as raw material (the ton costs about 350 pounds or about 7,000 pesetas). Once crushed, aluminum nitride is added, obtaining a result similar to that of pomiz stone, but with better characteristics. Unlike most insulators, innolita has very good resistance to mechanical stress. It does not feed, produce toxic fumes and resists temperatures up to 800 (C). Mounted in sandwich form with metal elements is a good obstacle to fire.

At the moment the application is expected to be available in factory chimney covers, building facades, industrial pipelines, naval equipment, etc.