Composite materials development from recyclable dry fraction of household solid wastes

Abstract

A procedure was developed to manufacture polymer-based composite (PMC) materials from recyclable dry fraction of household solid wastes. They were collected and each component underwent size reduction, drying, sieving and was separated into two size fractions. Subsequently, they were mixed using a statistically determined proportion. Mixtures werehot pressed to form cylindrical compacts and characterised by following standardised procedures. Results indicate that the procedure was able to produce a particulate PMC, which constitutes an interesting choice to utilise domestic solid wastes; minimising, their handle and deposition problems. In terms of mechanical properties, it seems that the new material could be used in different applications such as furniture, chairs, tables, desks or construction materials without structural compromises such as: decking, flooring, fencing,wall panels, etc.

On a développé une procedure pour la fabrication de matériaux composites a base de polymere a partir de la portion sèche recyclable des déchets solides ménagers. On les a ramassés et chaque composante a subi une réduction de taille, le séchage, le tamisage et la séparation en deux fractions granulométriques. Par la suite, on les a mélangés en utilisant une proportion déterminée statistique- ment. On a presséàchaud les mélanges afin d'obtenir des formes cylindriques compactes et on lesa caractérisés en suivant des procedures standardisées. Les résultats indiquent que la procedure pouvait produire un composite particulaire a base de polymére, lequel constitue un choix interessant d'u tilisation des déchets solides ménagers, minimisant ainsi les problémes de manipulation et de mise au rebut. Quant aux propriétés mécaniques, il semble que l'on peut utiliser le nouveau matériau pour différentes applications, incluant le mobilier, les chaises, les tables, les bureaux, ou comme matériaux de construction sans compromis structuraux comme les terrasses, les planchers, les clotures, les panneaux muraux, etc.

Keywords:

• Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
• Recycling
• Household solid

Acknowledgements

This work was developed thanks to the financial support of the CDCH from UCV and FONACIT from MCTI. Also, the technical contribution of Centro de Microscopia Electronica at Escuela de Metalurgia y Ciencia de los Materiales from UCV and Seccion de Materiales y Polimeros, Laboratorio E at USB, were very valuable.