Sintered glass ceramic articles from plasma vitrified asbestos containing waste

Abstract

Abstract

Plasma vitrification is a safe technique for eliminating the environmental impact of asbestos containing materials. Additional advantages may arise from the obtainment of valuable ceramics from vitrified waste if low cost treatments, comparable to those applied to traditional ceramics, are feasible. In the present paper, the application of a fast heating rate (40°C min⁻¹) to produce dense sinter crystallised materials from vitrified asbestos containing waste, having strength in excess of 100 MPa, is discussed. Sinter crystallisation, with fast heating processes, constituted also the basis of cellular glass ceramics and a new type of stoneware, with waste glass replacing conventional feldspar fluxes.

Keywords:

• Glass ceramics from waste
• Plasma vitrification
• Waste vitrification
• Sintering

The authors would like to thank Dr E. Edme, Dr U. Michon and Dr N. Planty of Europlasma for supplying Cofalit vitrified waste. E. B. acknowledges Mr A. Dattoli, Mr M. Paolella and Mr E. Puozzo for experimental assistance. This work was carried out in the framework of the European Project ‘GlaCERCo-ITN’ (Glass and Ceramics for High Technology Applications; Initial Training Network, Marie Curie Actions-FP7, g.a. no. 264526).