Used glass containers will be used in construction

A research group at Brunel University London has proposed using used glass containers for 3D printing of buildings. Scientists have proven that concrete made from crushed glass has high insulating characteristics. This is reported by the portal TheEngineer.co.uk.

Researchers believe that the use of crushed glass waste as aggregate for concrete will help improve the ecological situation in the world. Scientists have also proven that the use of glass as an aggregate reduces the thermal conductivity of concrete and improves insulation.

“Of course, most of the glass waste can be recycled, but a huge amount of glass containers are still just sent to landfill. We believe that the use of various glass recycling strategies will help improve the environmental situation in the world,” said Dr Seyed Ghaffar (Dr Seyed Ghaffar) , Head of the Research Group on Additive Technologies in Construction at Brunel University London.

Ghaffar emphasized that the construction industry could be one of the potential areas where unrecycled glass could be used effectively. For example, glass can replace natural sand in 3D construction.

It is noted that about 2,000 recycled beer bottles can be used to 3D print a building per square meter.

Scientists say that the thermal conductivity of soda-lime glass, from which windows and bottles are made, for example, is three times lower than that of quartz aggregate. The study also found that the addition of "foamed thermoplastic microspheres" (spheres of polymer filled with gas) further increased the thermal properties and toughness of the concrete.

The researchers plan to further study the effectiveness of glass in 3D construction.

Source: https://mashnews.ru/