Abstract: A lightweight aggregate for use in concrete exhibiting a high weight to strength ratio comprising a mixture of hydrated cement and a low sodium closed-cell foamed glass comprised of between 51 and 65 weight percent silica, between 8 and 14 weight percent alumina, between 2 and 5 weight percent soda, between 18 and 26 weight percent calcia, between 2 and 5 weight percent iron oxide, and up to 8 percent lithium oxide.

Abstract: A lightweight aggregate for use in concrete exhibiting a high weight to strength ratio comprising a mixture of hydrated cement and a low sodium closed-cell foamed glass comprised of between 51 and 65 weight percent silica, between 8 and 14 weight percent alumina, between 2 and 5 weight percent soda, between 18 and 26 weight percent calcia, between 2 and 5 weight percent iron oxide, and up to 8 percent lithium oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is filter aid formed of a crushed foam glass utilized as a filtering aid for removing suspended materials in a fluid stream by first providing a permeable support with the crushed foam glass filter aid placed adjacent thereto, and directing the fluid stream having suspended materials through the filter. Suspended materials within the fluid stream are captured on the crushed foam glass filter aid, separating the suspended materials from the fluid stream. The foam glass filter aid and the suspended materials may then be removed as a mixture, melted to form a molten glass, fritted to form a frit, comminuted to form a foam glass precursor, mixed with precursor with a foaming agent and heated and crushed to reform the foam glass filter aid. Suspended materials captured on the crushed foam glass filter aid are thus removed from the foam glass filter aid, and the foam glass filter aid to be recycled and used again in the filtering process.

Abstract: A method of making a foam glass having a substantially uniform pore size by first providing a substantially homogenous mixture of a milled glass and an activated carbon foaming agent, and then heating said mixture in the presence of oxygen to a temperature sufficient to react said foaming agent with oxygen. Preferably, the mixture is heated to a temperature of between about 700° C. and about 850° C., and more preferably the mixture is heated to a temperature of between but not limited to about 750° C. and about 800° C. The milled glass is preferably provided as waste soda lime glass. Preferably, the carbon foaming agent is milled to a substantially uniform particle size of less than about 400 mesh, more preferably less than about 325 mesh, and more preferably less than about 270 mesh. Preferably, the glass precursor is milled to a substantially uniform particle size of less than about 400 mesh, more preferably less than about 325 mesh, and more preferably less than about 270 mesh.

Abstract: Disclosed is filter aid formed of a crushed foam glass utilized as a filtering aid for removing suspended materials in a fluid stream by first providing a permeable support with the crushed foam glass filter aid placed adjacent thereto, and directing the fluid stream having suspended materials through the filter. Suspended materials within the fluid stream are captured on the crushed foam glass filter aid, separating the suspended materials from the fluid stream. The foam glass filter aid and the suspended materials may then be removed as a mixture, melted to form a molten glass, fritted to form a frit, comminuted to form a foam glass precursor, mixed with precursor with a foaming agent and heated and crushed to reform the foam glass filter aid. Suspended materials captured on the crushed foam glass filter aid are thus removed from the foam glass filter aid, and the foam glass filter aid to be recycled and used again in the filtering process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the composition of glass, and for sorting glass according to composition. Glass of unknown composition is irradiated and an x-ray fluorescence spectrum is detected from the glass. The detected x-ray fluorescence spectrum is then compared with a plurality of fluorescence spectra corresponding to glasses of known composition. The glass of unknown composition is then determined to correspond in composition to the glass of known composition having an x-ray fluorescence spectrum most closely matching the spectrum detected from the glass of unknown composition. The glass may then be sorted according to determined composition. In operation, a substantially continuous stream of glass pieces is irradiated and detected while the stream is moving. Once the composition of a piece of glass in the stream is determined, it is diverted into an appropriate container of like compositioned glass.

Abstract: A reflective marker for highway striping, signs and other surfaces is produced from a multiplicity of thermoplastic or thermosetting granules in the shape of tetrahedrons. A plurality of glass spheres having a diameter in the range of from about 6.0 microns to about 0.125 inches are substantially evenly dispersed throughout each granule with some of the spheres protruding through the outer granule surfaces. To form the granules the glass spheres, the granule material and a suitable pigment are mixed together and then applied to a flexible sheet or a roller containing a multiplicity of tetrahedron-shaped indentations. The mixture is urged into each of the indentations and is then cured. The resulting granules are removed from the indentations and are dropped from a random position onto a freshly painted highway line or other surface such that one of the flat faces on each granule is disposed in a downward direction.

Abstract: A process for making a body suitable for use as an additive for incorporation in a plastic, which comprises the steps of forming a blend of glass-forming materials, converting the blend of glass-forming materials into a solidified porous form, and heating such solidified porous blended glass-forming materials to form an exterior glassy shell thereon; as well as a lightweight body made by such process, and an article of manufacture incorporating such body.

Abstract: Retroreflective materials are made by coating glass particles with both hydrophobic polymers and coupling agents or with siloxane compounds which have both hydrophobic side chains and coupling-type side chains capable of chemically bonding to, or of forming loose associations with, a wide variety of materials.

Abstract: A retroreflectivity measuring system measures performance data relating to a reflective surface, such as a highway stripe or marking containing reflective glass beads. A laser beam illuminates a portion of the reflective surface with radiation of a predetermined wavelength, the laser being incident on the surface at an incidence angle i. The incident laser beam is then reflected back, at least partially, at a particular observation angle o that is separated from the incidence angle by a divergence angle .delta.. A telephotomultiplier aimed at the illuminated area receives the reflected laser beam at the observation angle o. A preferred telephotomultiplier includes a telescope, a narrow pass optical filter for passing basically only the wavelength of the laser beam, and a sensitive photoelectric device, such as a multiplier phototube. The laser and the telephotomultiplier may be mounted on a servo-motor driven frame in order to scan the target area from a moving vehicle.

Abstract: A process for making a body suitable for use as an additive for incorporation in a plastic, which comprises the steps of forming a blend of glass-forming materials, converting the blend of glass-forming materials into a solidified porous form, and heating such solidified porous blended glass-forming materials to form an exterior glassy shell thereon; as well as lightweight body made by such process, and an article of manufacture incorporating such body.

Abstract: Retroreflective materials are made by coating glass particles with both hydrophobic polymers and coupling agents or with siloxane compounds which have both hydrophobic side chains and coupling-type side chains capable of chemically bonding to, or of forming loose associations with, a wide variety of materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting low-cost raw materials such as blast furnace slag, basalt, feldspar or electrophos slag in the formation of high temperature mineral wool insulation. The low-cost mineral stock material is fed in particulate form continuously to a preheater in which it is elevated to a temperature range of between 1500.degree. F. and 2000.degree. F. by forcing hot combustion gases through a vertical column of the particulate stock material. Volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide are thus removed from the stock material. The preheated stock material is distributed to the top of an electric melting furnace which is essentially sealed from atmosphere. A substantially homogenous, low viscosity liquid glass melt is continuously discharged from the furnace.

Abstract: A melting furnace for the production of mineral wool insulation in the nature of a receptacle closed by a cover or crown through which spaced carbon electrodes extend from an external support and also through which particulate stock material is introduced over a substantial area of a melt contained in the receptacle. The receptacle of the furnace is defined by a substantially sealed external shell having an inner lining of carbon brick covering the floor and extending upwardly on the sidewalls thereof to an upper limit or edge defined by the plane of the top surface of liquid melt maintained in the furnace. An outer lining of carbon paste is sandwiched between the inner brick lining and the outer sealed shell. The inner lining is capped with a ring of refractory and a water cooling conduit is embedded in the outer lining at the plane of the liquid level to develop a fused or solidified glass lining only at the juncture of the refractory ring and the inner lining of carbon brick.

Abstract: The forming of an adherent platinum coating on the surface of hard, highly dense refractories by plasma flame spraying thereon an intermediate layer of a refractory oxide selected from the group comprised of zirconia, zircon, alumina, cordierite, mullite, or zirconia-alumina-silica having a particle size between 140 and 200 mesh, and further plasma sraying thereon a substantially 20-100 micron size platinum powder which is densified by heating to temperatures of 1350.degree.-1600.degree. C.