High-Performance Concrete Mixtures Containing Glass Powder: Optimization of mechanical properties, durability, and environmental impacts for use in construction and design applications

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the use of glass powder from various sources. These are mainly waste glass that comes from shards from municipal waste and old glass from photovoltaic panels due to the end of the service life of these systems from the first generation. Another type of glass investigated is a secondary product of glass production. By-products are created in many branches of industry; the glass industry is a significant producer in this respect. Two types of glass from different glass plants were analyzed. The initial study was already published in 2019 and was among the first in the Czech Republic; therefore, it was desirable to follow up with further research. Since the use of glass powder in concrete, in addition to the possibility, raises many fundamental questions, this research analyzes the materials as such, especially from the chemical, physical and toxic points of view. Repeated experiments were carried out in the thesis, and concrete samples with these materials were subsequently tested. The main point of interest was verifying the potential alkali-silica reaction (ASR), which was assumed due to the use of glass, which can catalyze the reaction. ASR testing took place in two iterations, international and national testing procedures were chosen. The potential ecotoxic threat of glass was viewed similarly significantly. Glass from photovoltaic panels and glass as a secondary production product was slightly hazardous in toxicity tests. However, after encapsulation in concrete, all results were at safe levels below the limit. Due to the subsequent development of tiles and masonry applications, it was necessary to test these potentially undesirable properties thoroughly. Thus the assumption of a positive effect of glass powder on the concrete mixture in terms of ASR and toxicity was confirmed for most mixtures. At the same time, a methodology was proposed for the evaluation of building materials from the point of view of ecotoxicity.