What Does
Cellular Glass Mean?
Cellular glass is a type of insulation that is composed of crushed glass and a material such as limestone or carbon. Because glass is a large part of its composition, it possesses some of the same advantages of glass.
There are many applications for cellular glass. Cellular glass can be specially shaped for insulating objects such as pipes or tanks. Cellular glass is used to produce insulation panels for structures. Other applications include cold storage and flotation devices.
Corrosionpedia Explains Cellular Glass
Cellular glass has many advantages over other types of insulation:
- Very lightweight and floats when placed in water.
- Does not absorb moisture, which is advantageous for insulation applications in humid locations or where it is important to maintain arid conditions inside an enclosure.
- Non-flammable, which makes it ideal for buildings that must adhere to strict fire codes.
- Has excellent mechanical properties. Typically, the denser the cellular glass is, the greater the mechanical properties.
- Chemically inert compared to other forms of insulation because it is composed mostly of glass.
Cellular glass is not found naturally and must be manufactured. To do this, glass is gathered and then broken down into a powder. Limestone or carbon is added to the glass. Once this mixture is created, it is baked at high temperatures. The baked mixture is then heat-treated and shaped.