The physical properties and microstructure of a new kind of borosilicate foam glasses with different Sb2O3doping content are comprehensively investigated. The experimental results show that appropriate addition of Sb2O3has positive impact on the bulk porosity and compressive strength of the foam glass. It is more suitable in this work to introduce 0.9 wt.% Sb2O3into the Na2O-K2O-B2O3-Al2O3-SiO2basic foam glass component and sinter at 775°C. And the obtained foam glasses present much more uniform microstructure, large pore size, and smooth cell walls, which bring them with better performance including a lower bulk density, low water absorption, and an appreciable compressive strength. The microstructure analysis indicates that, with the increase of the content of Sb2O3additives, the cell size tends to increase at first and then decreases. Larger amounts of Sb2O3do not change the crystalline phase of foam glass but increase its vitrification. It is meaningful to prepare the foam glass at a relatively low temperature for reducing the heat energy consumption.
Base compositions of the foam glasses in this study include commercial silica, alumina, boric acid, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, carbon powder, and disodium hydrogen phosphate. The foam glasses with partial Na 2 O replaced by Li 2 O were prepared and investigated as a possible artificial floating island carrier of water purifying unit. The effects of Li 2 O dosage on the density, mechanical strengths, and microstructures were studied. Foam glass with 15 mol% Na 2 O replaced by Li 2 O displayed a good compressive strength, 3.582 MPa, while the bulk density was relatively low, about 0.398 g/cm 3 . The chemical stability of samples was evaluated with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer, which showed low ion dissolution content in different pH dissolutions. The experimental results showed that the foam glass sample with 15 mol% Na 2 O replaced by Li 2 O exhibited excellent comprehensive properties, and the reason may contribute to the mixed alkali effect that proper amount of Li + could impede the migration of large-radius ions like Na + and K + and thus could improve the glass network structure.
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