Technology for production of building materials utilizing polymer waste

Profil Titel	Technology for production of building materials utilizing polymer waste
Referenz	11 LV 58AD 3L7D
Herkunftsland	Latvia
Kooperationsart	Angebot
Eintrag/Änderung	2011-05-13 / 2011-05-13
Status	Dieses Profil ist abgelaufen! Falls Sie denoch Interesse haben, kontaktieren Sie uns. (2012-04-28)

Kurzfassung

A Latvian company with a lasting experience in polymer research has elaborated a technology for utilization of thermoplastic polymer waste fractions which are not suitable for recovery of clean polymer and usually are deposited in landfills. The industrial or household waste polymer (polyethylene, PET, polypropylene) is used for production of quality building materials. The company offers know-how and equipment to waste processing plants, building material producers or other industrial partners.

Details

In the classical concrete production process cement is mixed with water and inert filler (gravel and sand). Cement chemically reacts with water and carbon dioxide resulting in a rigid substance which binds inert filler.
In the polymer concrete as a binding substance is used thermoplastic polymer. Polymer is heated till melting and mixed with inert filler (sand, gravel, crushed glass, etc.). The hot composite mass is filled in a press form and pressed to form a product.
All over the world the amount of industrial and household polymer waste gradually increases. Partly the polymer waste is recycled for production of new plastic products, but there exists a large amount of waste which is not recycled because it is too dirty, contains unacceptable admixtures, is mixture of various types of polymers, or it is economically unprofitable. The offered technology was developed to utilize these otherwise useless fractions of thermoplastic polymer (polyethylene, PET, polypropylene) waste. There are two benefits – (1) utilisation of polymer waste and (2) bringing into market new products - quality building materials made from polymer concrete. It can give additional profit to waste recycling or building materials producing companies.
The Latvian company has solved technological problems which prevented vast application of the method – considerably increased productivity of the process and improved quality of products. Presently the company uses the technology for production of polymer concrete pavement bricks and sells products in the local market. The products are of similar quality than conventional cement pavement bricks meeting industrial norms. Operating in the field for many years the company has accumulated extensive know-how of polymer concrete production technologies and knowledge on material properties. The company seeks for cooperation with industrial partners offering technological know-how and full production line for manufacturing of polymer concrete products.

Innovative Aspects:
• Polymer concrete products are lighter than traditional cement analogues.
• Polymer concrete products are more durable in Northern countries due to better resistance to freezing – thawing cycles.
• Utilization of the polymer waste fractions which are not suitable for clean polymer recovery reduces volume of landfills or quantity of waste for burning.
• Transforming the polymer waste into a marketable product stimulates collection of polymer waste, thus reducing littering of environment.
• Turning rubbish into building materials reduces cement usage and therefore saves natural resources otherwise needed for cement production.