Energy and Mechanical Characterization of Composite Materials for Building with Recycled PVC

Abstract

The diffusion of plastic materials had and still has a significant impact on the environment. Among these, PVC (polyvinylchloride) is certainly able to guarantee the best cost/performance ratio, high sustainability and absolute recyclability. In particular, this work refers to cement-based mortars with PVC compound used for electric cables sheathing. The aim was to verify the potential of a "new" mix-design in terms of energy efficiency and mechanical resistance of the finished products. Some mortar specimens were prepared using as basic components cement, water, sand and PVC as powder and granules. The plastic aggregate, in volumetric substitution of the sand, has been varied in proportions varying up to 50 % of the dry component. Different mixtures were prepared, all referred to a base one without PVC, to evaluate its influence on workability, thermal conductivity, compressive and flexural strength, capillary water absorption. Experimental results have shown that increasing the amount of PVC reduces density as well as compressive and flexural strength. However, PVC mortars show a greater resistance to capillary water absorption compared to the reference one, while the thermal conductivity values slightly decrease. This study is the basis for subsequent research based on further combinations of aggregates.

Energy Performance of Construction Materials Using Waste Recycled Polymer as Fine Aggregate Replacement

“…For the experimental tests two sample geometries were prepared: the first one used in order to study mechanical properties [14] and to make capillary water absorption tests (dimensions 160×40×40 mm); the second one to measure thermal conductivity (dimensions 29×29×2.45 mm) [15]. In the first phase curing of the mechanical tests specimens [1] was performed under conditions of constant temperature of 20 °C ± 2 °C and relative humidity of 95 % ± 5% and then they were taken from the moulds after 24 hours and placed in an environment with controlled humidity of 65 % ± 5 % and at a temperature of 20 °C ± 2 °C. A Dual Column Instron 3369 frame for mortar samples hardened after 28 days measured mechanical properties.…”

“…Thermal conductivity measurements [1] were performed through a heat flow meter in "single sample in a double configuration" (NETZSCH heat flow meter HFM 436/0/1). The specimens for the thermal test, after 28 days of hardening, were placed in an oven at a temperature of 60 °C until a constant mass was reached and then the density [16] was calculated, a parameter to be inserted before starting the test as an input in the Q-Lab software to calculate λ.…”

“…After this step they were oven dried up to constant mass at 60 °C and finally immersed in a shallow bath of water at a temperature equal to 20 °C and at a depth of about 6 mm [1].…”

“…The next graph shows the values of the angular coefficient for each test/class of specimens and the value of R 2 calculated with the least squares method [1].…”

“…Starting from the research carried out and published in the proceedings of the AIGE IIETA Congress on TI-IJES on June 2019 [1], the following paper allows an extension of the considerations and the tests implemented in the previous study.…”