DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL REINFORCED BY PLASTIC WASTE: APPLICATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Abstract

Waste reuse is subject to an increasing amount of research aimed at reducing the negative impact of such material on the environment. This study explores the possibility of using plastic waste as reinforcement in composite materials. A family of materials was developed using an unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) organic matrix and various mineral fillers (marble powder, expanded perlite, sand, etc.), potentially allowing their use in wall and floor coverings and as raw materials in the manufacture of traditional ceramic tables. Selected mechanical properties of these materials were verified, including flexural strength, tensile strength, and density. The results demonstrate the role of reinforcement in oriented fibers or matt fabric in improving the mechanical properties of the materials. Flexural strength is improved via reinforcement in the form of random or woven plastic fibers (32.44 MPa). However, the use of expanded perlite as a filler results in a lower mechanical strength (31.16 MPa) than marble powder or sand because of its friability.