Manufacturing Epoxy and Polyurethane-based Artificial Stones from Waste Glass of Colorless Beverage Packaging

Abstract

Novel civil construction materials based on waste can be an optimal alternative for waste management, reducing its improper disposal while engaging an otherwise discarded material as a raw material in other production processes. This research’s main objective was to develop and characterize two novel artificial stones based on waste glass from bottles and aggregated with epoxy resin (ASG-EP) and polyurethane resin (ASG-PU) from castor oil, respectively, as well as the comparison of the two developed materials. Plates were manufactured with 15% of epoxy or 15% polyurethane resins and 85% of waste glass from bottles. The mixture was molded with a process of 6Hz vibration, 600mmHg of vacuum, and hot compaction at 90ºC for EP and 80ºC for PU. Results evidenced that the development of ASGs based on waste glass from bottles is technically and economically viable.

Keywords

• Artificial stone
• Polymeric matrices
• Waste Glass
• Polyurethane Resin
• Epoxy Resin