Recycled Composite Cast Glass Panels made of C&D waste

Abstract

Glass is a material that is used in many different industries nowadays, including digitalisation, telecommunications, transportation, and architecture. Despite being widely used, the manufacture of flat glass presents serious environmental issues because to its energy-intensive methods, such as the float method.

Glass recycling and reuse have been explored to mitigate these environmental impacts. Incorporating cullet, into manufacturing processes has shown substantial reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. However, challenges such as financial, infrastructural, and technical limitations hinder the increased use of cullet, especially from post-consumer sources.

Creative thinking is essential to overcome these challenges. In line with the EU's zero C&D waste goals, researchers aim to maximise the use of recycled glass in building construction. Various approaches to reusing waste glass in construction are under investigation by research organisations like Delft University of Technology. Methods such as casting allow for volumetric designs and can accommodate higher levels of impurities and contaminants. Since float glass typically breaks due to surface imperfections and flaws, enhancing surface quality is crucial while the bulk can tolerate lower quality. This concept has led to the development of composite panels, where the surface contains higher purity cullet and the bulk contains lower purity cullet.

Despite these advancements, there is still a significant gap in understanding the optimal ratio between the surface and bulk layers to achieve the best structural performance while maximising recyclability. Furthermore, the specific material compositions for both the surface and bulk layers remain unknown. Current research aims to address this gap by investigating the impact of various factors, including glass material composition and the thickness of both surface and bulk layers, on the performance of composite glass panels.

Research on glass casting and recycling is essential for sustainable development since it presents viable answers to environmental problems facing the building industry. This study focuses on experimental methods that are essential to the advancement of casting and glass recycling.

The research aims to increase glass recycling operations through investigations into experimental variables using cast glass recycled beams. To better understand structural behaviour, the experimental methodology includes testing both homogeneous and composite glass beams. In order to maximise surface-to-bulk ratios, various material compositions of surface and bulk and layering techniques are investigated. Techniques for both mechanical and microscopic validation are used to assess beam performance and to understand variables affecting structural integrity.

Recycled Composite Cast Glass Panels made of C&D waste are an example of a new solution for sustainable building applications that can be produced by improving beam configurations and understanding material behaviour. This helps the building construction industry make the shift to a circular economy.