Alternative to PCM: Recycling Plastic Waste for Affordable Thermal Insulation in Building Envelopes: An Experimental Analysis

Abstract

In the building sector, the low thermal conductivity of plastics makes them a viable option to increase the thermal resistance of construction materials. Incorporating recycled plastic in concrete panels can not only enhance the sustainability and circular economy of the buildings but also provide an affordable alternative to phase change materials (PCM) for thermal insulation. To evaluate the potential of waste plastic as a thermal insulation material, nine samples with varying thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm) and portions of shredded waste plastic were tested to determine their thermal and physical properties. The properties under investigation, such as density, water absorption, porosity, compressiveness, and thermal conductivity, have been tested. Upon completion of the physical and thermal assessments, it was determined that the PL.SH.layer.10% and PL.SH.layer.20% insulation samples exhibited higher thermal effective alternatives compared to the PCM samples. Additionally, the latter two options are deemed to be more cost-effective. Only the samples with with a melted plastic layer of 1 or 2 mm failed to boost their thermal efficiency in terms of heat insulation until the melted plastic was increased by more than 3 mm. The research emphasizes the capacity of recycled plastic to act as a cost-efficient substitute for thermal insulation. This substitution to boost the insulation of building envelopes, preserve energy, and enhance thermal comfort, boost increase the insulation of building envelopes, preserve maintain energy, and enhance thermal comfort, especially in hot developing countries. The results may provide valuable is for future investigations and advancements in sustainable construction materials, facilitating the shift towards a circular economic model.

Keywords

• concrete panel
• geometrical pattern
• humidity
• thermal performance
• pcm
• waste plastic