This dissertation focuses on the preparation of foam glass, the description of high-temperature phenomena during the production process, and the methodology for characterizing foam glasses. The main objective was to elucidate the physicochemical processes occurring during the foaming process. To this end, a methodology for the quantitative evaluation of volume expansion and the porous structure of foam glasses was developed and tested.
The experimental part of the thesis involves the application of modern image analysis methods to evaluate the expansion and structure of foam glasses. For precise and non-destructive monitoring of volume expansion, a methodology based on an instrumentally undemanding 3D visual hull reconstruction of the sample was proposed and optimized in the experimental section. Furthermore, a methodology for sample preparation and evaluating the porosity and spatial homogeneity of foam glasses using image analysis was designed and tested. The proposed methodology was applied to assess two distinct foam glass systems utilizing either CaCO₃ or a mixture of glycerol and waterglass as the foaming agent.
A detailed study of the high-temperature processes occurring during foam glass preparation via the glycerol and waterglass foaming mixture was also conducted on the prepared model systems. The influence of the foaming mixture composition and the source of chemically bonded oxygen on the foaming process was investigated. Considerable attention was devoted to the role of the alkaline component and the impact of carbonation processes on the ongoing reactions, as well as the evolution of the microstructure and phase composition during various stages of foam glass preparation. The developed analytical methods and experimental findings provide a robust framework for the objective control and targeted optimization of foam glass properties. Simultaneously, the detailed description of the investigated physicochemical phenomena offers valuable insights for further materials research and development in the field of foam glasses.