A coated glass or glass ceramic substrate includes a substrate with a surface area and a coating on that surface area. The coating includes a glass matrix and IR-reflecting pigments. The IR-reflecting pigments have a TSR value of at least 20%, as determined according to ASTM G 173. The coating, at a wavelength of 1500 nm, exhibits a remission of at least 35%, as measured according to ISO 13468.

In a method for producing an expanded-glass granular material, starting materials containing glass powder, water glass, at least one blowing agent, and metakaolin, are mixed in order to form a homogeneous slurry. The slurry is granulated to form raw granular-material particles, which are foamed at a baking temperature between 780° C. and 950° C. in order to form expanded-glass granular-material particles. The expanded-glass granular material has a long-term water absorption of less than 25 volume percent when the expanded-glass granular material is exposed to water for a time period of 21 days.

A coated insulation material comprising an insulation material substrate and a coating on at least part of a surface of the insulation material substrate and wherein the coating comprises 20 to 65 wt % alkali silicate based on the total weight of the cured coating and the alkali silicate comprises potassium silicate. Also described is an aqueous coating composition useful in providing the insulation material coating, a potassium silicate coating, methods of producing the coated insulation material and potassium silicate coating and kit of parts including an insulation material substrate and either the aqueous coating composition or the potassium silicate coating.

A method of manufacture of a powder comprising, or consisting essentially of, microspheres, the method comprising: providing a feed powder; and applying at least one spheroidisation flame to the powder. The powder may be suitable for use in medical and/or non-medical applications.

A method of treating a surface to remove unwanted material therefrom, including providing a foamed glass article formed from a starting mixture including glass, a carbonate foaming agent, and a devitrification agent selected from the group potassium phosphate, potassium phosphate tribasic, sodium phosphate and combinations thereof, and contacting the surface with the foamed glass article while providing relative movement between the surface and the article. The crystal silica content of the foamed glass body is less than 1 weight percent. The surface is treated by sanding, rubbing, scraping, degreasing, polishing, cleaning, smoothing, depilling, grooming, stripping, degumming, and combinations thereof. The surface is selected from the group comprising wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, porcelain, glass, enameled surfaces, ceramic, concrete, or tile, and belongs to a member of the group comprising pools, spas, griddles, grills, fryers, bottles, glassware, cement pieces, marble, granite, monuments, skin, animal hides, textiles, garments.

Borate-glass biomaterials comprising: aNa.sub.2O. bCaO. cP.sub.2O.sub.5. dB.sub.2O.sub.3 wherein a is from about 1-40 wt %, b is from about 10-40 wt %, c is from about 1-40 wt %, and d is from about 35-80 wt %; and wherein the biomaterial has a surface area per mass of more than about 5 m.sup.2/g. Methods of making and uses of these biomaterials.

Systems and methods are disclosed for landfill systems, comprising waste, a geosynthetic product, and a layer of foam glass aggregates interposed between the waste and the geosynthetic product.

A process and a plant produce hollow microspheres made of glass. According to the process an aqueous suspension is prepared from starting materials containing glass powder and water glass, feedstock particles having a diameter between 5 μm and 300 μm, in particular between 5 μm and 100 μm, being produced from the suspension. The feedstock particles are mixed with a pulverulent release agent made of aluminum hydroxide in an intensive mixer. The mixture of feedstock particles and release agent is subsequently introduced into a firing chamber of a furnace. The feedstock particles expand in the firing chamber, at a firing temperature which exceeds the softening temperature of the glass powder, to form the hollow microspheres.

Methods for engineered cellular magmatics usable for remediation and catalytic applications and articles thereof are disclosed. For example, the magmatics may include one or more infiltration materials that are configured not to sinter when a foamed mass is formed. The infiltration materials may be enclosed in cells of the foamed mass and may be floating and/or fixed to the cell walls.

Methods for engineered cellular magmatic geotechnical fill and articles thereof are disclosed. For example, the magmatics may include one or more infiltration materials that are configured not to sinter when a foamed mass is formed. The infiltration materials may be enclosed in cells of the foamed mass and may be floating and/or fixed to the cell walls.