Properties of Foam Glass Material Modified by Nanosize Zirconium Dioxide

The effect of small additions of zirconium concentrate with average particle size 30 nm on the physical and mechanical properties of foam glass is examined. It is found that the introduction of zirconium dioxide into the foaming mixture changes the macrostructure of foam glass and increases the average pore size to 2.5 mm. Nanosize ZrO₂ decreases the viscosity of melt upon foaming. The optimal weight content of zirconium dioxide from the standpoint of mechanical properties is 0.3 wt.%. The strength of foam glass increases in the presence of nanosize particles to 1.4 MPa compared with the strength of the initial material 1.1 MPa. Subsequent increase of the zirconium dioxide content to 1.1 wt.% decreases the strength to 0.5 MPa.