Method of stone washing fabric with a synthetic abrasive stone

Abstract

Synthetic abrasive stones and method for making same. A mixture of glass and 10-20% by weight foaming agent is provided. The mixture is heated to a temperature of from 788° to 899° C., and is then cooled to room temperature.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A method of stone washing fabric, comprising: washing fabric with a synthetic abrasive stone comprising a foamed glass derived from a mixture of glass and . .a.!. .Iadd.from 10 to less than 20% by weight .Iaddend.foaming agent.   
     
     
       2. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the glass is selected from the group consisting of waste glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 2, wherein the glass in the mixture is ground glass in a powder state. 
     
     
       4. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of carbonates and sulfates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals, carbon black, sulfur, dolomite, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 4, wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, barium carbonate, strontium carbonate, calcium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate, barium sulfate, strontium sulfate, and mixtures thereof. . .6. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the foaming agent comprises up to 20% by weight of the mixture..!.. .7. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 6, wherein the foaming agent comprises between 
     
     
        10 to 20% by weight of the mixture..!.8. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the foaming agent is calcium carbonate, and 
     
     
        the mixture contains 15% by weight thereof. 9. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the cell structure of the synthetic 
     
     
        abrasive stone is uneven. 10. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 9, wherein the cell structure of the synthetic abrasive stone 
     
     
        ranges from 0.1 mm to 6 mm. 11. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic abrasive stone has a lower attrition 
     
     
        rate than the attrition rate of pumice. 12. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein washing the fabric with the synthetic abrasive stone causes the synthetic abrasive stone to break down into grit 
     
     
        or sludge. 13. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises trapping the grit or sludge resulting 
     
     
        from the synthetic abrasive stone breaking down. 14. A method of stone 
     
     
        washing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is denim. 15. A method of stone washing fabric in a washing machine having agitation fins, comprising: fitting over the agitation fins in the washing machine a synthetic abrasive stone that has been molded into a block that fits over the agitation fins, the synthetic abrasive stone comprising a foamed glass derived from a mixture of glass and a foaming agent;   adding fabric to the washing machine; and   washing the fabric in the washing machine so that it contacts the synthetic   
     
     
        abrasive stone, thereby softening and abrading the fabric. 16. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 15, wherein the glass is selected from the group consisting of waste glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate 
     
     
        glass, aluminosilicate glass, and mixtures thereof. 17. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 15, wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of carbonates and sulfates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals, carbon black, sulfur, dolomite, and 
     
     
        mixtures thereof. 18. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 15, wherein the foaming agent comprises up to 20% by weight of the 
     
     
        mixture. 19. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 18, wherein the foaming agent is calcium carbonate, and the mixture contains 
     
     
        15% by weight thereof. 20. A method of stone washing fabric according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises remaking the trapped grit or sludge into a synthetic abrasive stone.