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crushed glass in cavity to act as insulation?

  • 11-05-2009 11:34PM
    #1
    fatherbuzcagney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭


    If a cavity was fully filled with fine crushed glass would it act as an insulator?


Comments

  • #2
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,455 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    fatherbuzcagney wrote: »
    If a cavity was fully filled with fine crushed glass would it act as an insulator?

    every material has a degree of insulative properties.
    the main way materials insulate is by trapping air pockets, eg mineral wool, polystyrene etc..

    i cannot see crushed glass having the ability to trap enough air to make it a viable insulation. If this is a new build it will have to conform to regiulations, so the specific thermal conductivity of crushed glass would need to be known in order to determine what thickness is needed to comply...

    you would also have the serious issue of water transmittence across the cavity with crushed glass.... not a good idea.


  • #3
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,408 ✭✭✭bbam


    Hi..
    I'm by no means expert but wouldn't the weight of the glass over the height of the cavity be a problem??
    Glass in any quantity is a heavy substance, imagine the lateral force being applied on each of the walls...

    Cheers


  • #4
    fatherbuzcagney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭fatherbuzcagney


    Syd, the dampness issue id debatable, the bonded bead or foam filled cavities does not seem to have caused any dampness problems. The regulations and compliance is an issue alright.

    Bham,
    The weight could be a problem.If it was filled in layers with a glue or resin mixed through it and left to set it would over come that problem.


    It was just something i was thinking about after i came across a new glass recycling machine. The machine crushed used bottles into little bits so as they would not take up as much room in the recycling bin.


  • #5
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,455 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    fatherbuzcagney wrote: »
    Syd, the dampness issue id debatable, the bonded bead or foam filled cavities does not seem to have caused any dampness problems. The regulations and compliance is an issue alright.

    Bham,
    The weight could be a problem.If it was filled in layers with a glue or resin mixed through it and left to set it would over come that problem.


    It was just something i was thinking about after i came across a new glass recycling machine. The machine crushed used bottles into little bits so as they would not take up as much room in the recycling bin.

    if you are lookinng for a use for crushed glass... have you considered a polished concrete floor with glass incorporated as an actual finish???

    http://www.greenspec.co.uk/html/product-pages/ecoscreed.php

    i remember seeing something similar on grand designs lately...


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