Waste-Derived High-Density Polyethylene-Glass Composites: A Pathway to Sustainable Structural Materials.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Waste Management

Background:

• Global plastic and glass waste generation is immense, with limited recycling, leading to landfill burden.
• Development of novel recycling pathways is crucial for sustainable waste management.
• Recycled materials offer potential for creating value-added products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using recycled glass fines encapsulated in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix.
• To optimize the manufacturing process and mix design for these novel composite materials.
• To evaluate the mechanical performance and microstructural characteristics of the developed composites.

Main Methods:

• Specimens were prepared using compression moulding under varied manufacturing conditions.
• Statistical analysis was employed to determine the optimal mix design.
• Mechanical testing (flexural, tensile, compressive) and microstructural analysis (microstructure, pore structure, chemistry) were conducted.

Main Results:

• Optimized composites achieved flexural, tensile, and compressive strengths of 33.3 MPa, 19.6 MPa, and 12.8 MPa, respectively.
• The addition of maleic anhydride enhanced compressive and flexural strengths by 37.6% and 8.5%, respectively, due to strong hydrogen bonds.
• Microstructural analysis confirmed effective stress transfer within the composite matrix.

Conclusions:

• Recycled glass fines can be effectively utilized within an HDPE matrix to create sustainable polymeric composites.
• The optimized composite material demonstrates significant mechanical properties suitable for structural applications.
• This research provides a viable pathway for repurposing plastic and glass waste into valuable construction materials.