Siberian scientists have developed a technology for producing high-strength concrete based on industrial and household glass waste. The new glass concrete is not only cheaper and stronger than its analogues, but will also reduce the amount of non-degradable glass waste. The results of the study are published in the journal Buildings. The research work was carried out within the framework of the priority activities of the SEC “Yenisey Siberia” – new industrial technologies and the greening of the economy.
Glass waste is considered the most difficult to dispose of and, contrary to current opinion, harms the environment. Glass practically does not decompose under the influence of natural processes, as well as most alkalis, acids and salts. Every year, a large amount of industrial and household glass waste is generated in the world, which, however, can be recycled and used in the production of new products.
Scientists of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center SB RAS with colleagues from SFU have developed an improved high-strength glass-filled concrete consisting of 90% glass waste. Window glass waste was used as cullet.
Glass as a filler for concrete compounds usually reduces the strength of the material due to the chemical interaction of glass and cement. Therefore, the researchers presented a new approach to the creation of composite glass concrete: specialists crushed broken glass. As a filler, glass particles of about 50-60 micrometers in size, obtained in a ball mill, were used. Glass was also used as a binding element, but crushed even more — up to one micrometer. As a result of a number of experiments, scientists managed to increase the strength of the glass-concrete composition by 2.5 times.
“Humanity produces a large amount of non-degradable and hard-to-decompose waste, which has a significant anthropogenic impact on the environment. The placement of these wastes in landfills is irrational from an economic point of view, since it removes the material from economic circulation,” said Sergey Dobrosyslov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, researcher at the FITC KNC SB RAS. – We have developed a high-strength building material based on industrial and household glass waste. The use of waste in the production of materials will reduce both the anthropogenic load on the environment and the cost of finished products. The use of waste is 2-3 times cheaper than natural raw materials. The new composite opens up opportunities for creating stronger and more stable structures in the future.”
It should be noted that the resulting composite can be used in the construction, decoration and restoration of buildings where the most durable and durable materials are required.