Structural Composite Construction Materials Manufactured from Municipal Solid Waste.

摘要

Work was performed to assess alternatives and opportunities for the development of innovative construction materials made from recycled paper fiber and thermoplastic materials. The Identification of such composites will create a stable market for recovered waste plastics and paper while providing a new material for applications. The goals were to identify methods and processes to produce composite materials with suitable properties and to evaluate the economics of the process and the markets they can compete in. Materials research was performed to Identify possible composite compositions and chemical treatments that would enhance the interfacial strength between paper fibers and the thermoplastic matrix. Screening tests were performed to select the most promising options. Tensile tests were performed on several composites made of paper and polystyrene or high density polyethylene. Economic and market analyses were performed to assess the viability of these composites as a product. The data indicate that paper fibers are too weak to create a composite with suitable strength properties. In addition the available market is saturated and very difficult to compete in. The use of chopped glass fibers in a thermoplastic matrix as a fiberglass replacement may be a more promising strategy. Further investigation of this alternative is recommended. Thermoplastic composites, Plastic wood, MSW Recycling, Construction materials.