Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment
Recycling plastic waste is a major challenge today, but it also offers an opportunity to create sustainable building products and promote a circular economy in construction. The aim of this article is to evaluate a new lightweight plaster composite incorporating expanded polyethylene (EPE) packaging...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302401778X |
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| author | Daniel Ferrández Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal Erika Barrak Paulo Santos Carla Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Daniel Ferrández Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal Erika Barrak Paulo Santos Carla Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Daniel Ferrández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recycling plastic waste is a major challenge today, but it also offers an opportunity to create sustainable building products and promote a circular economy in construction. The aim of this article is to evaluate a new lightweight plaster composite incorporating expanded polyethylene (EPE) packaging waste for lightweight steel frame (LSF) partition walls. Mechanical and hygrothermal characterization and environmental life cycle assessment are carried out on these composites with a replacement of up to 30% of the original raw material by volume. The results show that the alternative plaster has 21.7% grater flexural strength in plates than required by standards. In addition, the reduced water vapour permeability of these materials makes them more resistant to damage in high humidity environments. On the other hand, the lightened composites have 43.9% lower thermal conductivity than the reference material, increasing the thermal resistance of LSF partition walls by 20.3%. Finally, cradle-to-gate global warming potential is reduced by up to 30% compared with the 100% virgin EPE. These results are encouraging and present a significant opportunity to advance the development of sustainable novel prefabricated modular building products. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a10f4168b76441a0b603b8f9a20151f7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-a10f4168b76441a0b603b8f9a20151f72024-12-19T10:59:53ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302024-12-0124103535Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessmentDaniel Ferrández0Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal1Erika Barrak2Paulo Santos3Carla Rodrigues4Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Departamento de Tecnología de la Edificación. Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040, Madrid, SpainUniversidad Politécnica de Madrid, Departamento de Tecnología de la Edificación. Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author.University of Coimbra, ADAI, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luis Reis Santos, 3030-788, Coimbra, PortugalUniversity of Coimbra, ISISE, ARISE, Department of Civil Engineering, 3030-788, Coimbra, PortugalUniversity of Coimbra, ADAI, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luis Reis Santos, 3030-788, Coimbra, PortugalRecycling plastic waste is a major challenge today, but it also offers an opportunity to create sustainable building products and promote a circular economy in construction. The aim of this article is to evaluate a new lightweight plaster composite incorporating expanded polyethylene (EPE) packaging waste for lightweight steel frame (LSF) partition walls. Mechanical and hygrothermal characterization and environmental life cycle assessment are carried out on these composites with a replacement of up to 30% of the original raw material by volume. The results show that the alternative plaster has 21.7% grater flexural strength in plates than required by standards. In addition, the reduced water vapour permeability of these materials makes them more resistant to damage in high humidity environments. On the other hand, the lightened composites have 43.9% lower thermal conductivity than the reference material, increasing the thermal resistance of LSF partition walls by 20.3%. Finally, cradle-to-gate global warming potential is reduced by up to 30% compared with the 100% virgin EPE. These results are encouraging and present a significant opportunity to advance the development of sustainable novel prefabricated modular building products.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302401778XExpanded polyethylene wastePlaster compositesLife cycle assessmentPlastic waste managementCircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Ferrández Alicia Zaragoza-Benzal Erika Barrak Paulo Santos Carla Rodrigues Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment Results in Engineering Expanded polyethylene waste Plaster composites Life cycle assessment Plastic waste management Circular economy |
| title | Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| title_full | Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| title_fullStr | Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| title_short | Upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials: Physico-mechanical, hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| title_sort | upcycling expanded polyethylene waste for novel composite materials physico mechanical hygrothermal and life cycle assessment |
| topic | Expanded polyethylene waste Plaster composites Life cycle assessment Plastic waste management Circular economy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302401778X |
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