The Mechanical and Physical Properties of Construction and Demolition Waste - Epoxy Composites

摘要

Due to the increasing concern about the environment and depleting conventional materials, a lot of research is going on in the field of material science to develop environment friendly materials, and to improve the recycling and reusing of waste materials. Composites are material providing possibilities to reach these targets. In this experimental study, the possibilities and potential in the utilization of mixed waste from recycling in the manufacturing of epoxy composites are studied.The studied properties are flexural properties, i.e. flexural strength and flexural modulus, and hardness as mechanical properties, and water absorption and thickness swelling as physical properties. Element analysis was used to determine the composition of construction and demolition waste used in manufacturing. The analysis revealed a large proportion of mineral elements with high hardness. Consequently, this had a clear impact on the hardness of the composite. The flexural properties were found to be on a reasonable level. The waste-epoxy composite showed a low uptake of water due to the minor content of hydrophilic materials present in the composite.