Researchers in Australia have discovered how to make concrete from recycled glass by turning it back into sand. According to a Fox News report, the team turned glass waste into a polymer concrete used for industrial flooring.
Polymer produces a high-strength, water-resistant material suited to areas with heavy traffic such as service stations and airports. It typically uses resins to replace lime-type cement as a binder.
Lecturer Dr. Riydah Al-Ameri, from the Deakin School of Engineering, Victoria, told Fox that the invention was a “potential substitute” for regular sand in concrete.
“Mined sand requires washing and grading before it is added to aggregate, cement and water to make concrete,” he told Fox. “We have found that substituting sand with ground recycled glass makes the polymer concrete stronger and is a sustainable use of one of the major types of recyclables in the domestic waste stream. “Any changes that reduce the cost of production will lead to significant gains across the industry, potentially on a global scale,” he said.
Source: Fox News
