New polyester composites from recycling glass

The rising concern towards environmental issues and, on the other hand, the management of industrial wastes has led to increasing interest about new materials with low environmental impact. In our study, the possibility to use WEE glass waste as raw material in composite materials with a composition typical of a solid surface, converting them from an environmental and economic burden to a profitable added-value-resource, has been investigated. Solid surfaces are manufactured from a polymeric materials, while the fillers are quartz and several granules may also be added to enhance the colour effects. In this work it was studied the possibility to obtain a product having the same properties of a solid surface material, such as high modulus and flexural strength, good household chemicals resistance, good impact represents by using the glass waste as fillers with a decrease of raw material consumption.