Description
Appearance Features
Color:
Green Bottle Cullet displays varying shades of green, resulting from ferrous ion impurities in raw materials and intentional additions of iron/chromium oxides during manufacturing. Colors range from pale celadon to deep emerald, with slight variations between different producers.
Transparency:
The cullet maintains a translucent quality that permits partial light transmission while creating a distinctive green glow. This optical property allows limited visibility of contents while providing beneficial light filtration.
Surface Texture:
Fragments retain the original bottles' smooth surfaces on larger pieces, though breakage creates characteristically sharp edges. Processing may introduce minor surface abrasions while preserving overall glass integrity.
Physical Properties
Hardness:
With a Mohs hardness rating of 5.5-6.5, Green Bottle Cullet can scratch softer materials despite its reduced structural stability in fragmented form. The material remains susceptible to further breakage under mechanical stress.
Density:
The standard 2.5 g/cm³ density enables efficient density-based separation during recycling processes, similar to other glass cullet varieties.
Brittleness:
Exhibiting typical glass fragility, the cullet fractures easily under impact or thermal shock, creating progressively smaller fragments when processed or handled roughly.
Chemical Properties
Stability:
Green Bottle Cullet demonstrates excellent chemical inertness, resisting reactions with most acids, alkalis, and salts. This stability originally made it ideal for alcohol storage, though prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals may cause surface degradation.
Environmental Resistance:
The material's UV-absorbing capacity provides protection for light-sensitive contents. While resistant to normal weathering, extended outdoor exposure may eventually cause surface deterioration.
Recycling Value
This cullet variety offers significant sustainability benefits:
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High-quality feedstock for new green glass production
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Reduces virgin material requirements by 90-95%
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Lowers melting energy consumption by 25-30%
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Maintains color consistency in recycled products
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Suitable for closed-loop bottle-to-bottle recycling
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Alternative applications in construction and decorative glass
The material's combination of functional properties and environmental advantages makes Green Bottle Cullet particularly valuable for sustainable manufacturing initiatives in the glass industry.
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