Inference: Recycled glass has been innovatively used in the country for a long time now. So where is it now?
Though glass as a construction material in cladding and insulation applications has definitely come of age in the country, there is no really significant progress when it comes to recycled glass product innovations or applications. Recycled glass seems to be a phenomenon essentially in the container and packaging industry or heading towards landfills. The world over awareness of the potential of this material doesn't seem to be significantly seen in the Indian construction industry.
Environmental concerns
With the rising consciousness of environment conservation and green construction recycled glass has come up in several innovative and decorative construction products. Recycling of glass seriously cuts costs of raw materials and energy/fuel. Since glass can be recycled indefinitely as its structure does not deteriorate when reprocessed. Countries like Switzerland and Finland recycle more than 90% of their container waste.
The process
Waste glass is collected from various sources and collection schemes like bottle banks, kerbside schemes or directly from parties using large quantities of glass containers. In India the kabbadiwala is a major link in this chain. These collections and glass rejected due to breakages and manufacturing defects together form glass cullet. Cullet may have added materials in the form of plastic, aluminum etc. that can change the properties of the cullet. After pulverization, the aggregate has a texture similar to natural sand and is as hard-grained.
Combined with concrete it produces a material with a higher abrasion resistance than similar mixtures using quartz sand. There is also often a reduced drying shrinkage in these mixes. Powdered glass is polozzolanic, or it contributes to strength development by reacting with lime. Though these strengths are lower than Portland cement alone there are distinct economic advantages of using the material.
Product Innovations
Glass aggregates: Recycled glass used in new construction products includes new window glazing, wall and floor tiles and fiberglass insulation. It also goes into concrete towards making tiles, terrazzo flooring, pavers, wall finishes, pipe bedding and concrete as exposed aggregate. The decorative elements are accentuated by the colors and sparkle of the original glass. They also have the scope to meet special requirements of custom design-on-order products architectural accents.
Tumbled glass: These are recycled glass pieces that have a frosted surface and rounded edges. These pieces widen the scope for innovation in interior design, mosaics and landscape accenting. They are suitable for incorporation into tiled surfacing, architectural glass designs or to feature in reflecting pools and fountains. Tumbled glass may also be used as ballast gravel in green roof and other green building applications.
Abrasive/ blasting media: Crushed recycled glass is a safe and effective medium to substitute natural sand and slag. It is applicable for sandblasting work like surface preparation, removal of rust or paint, etc. With its lower weight it is easier to use and dispose off.
Water Filteration media: Finely crushed recycled glass presents itself as a direct replacement for silica sand. It has shown its advantages in being lighter, more hygienic and safer to use than silica sand. As a light weight product it provides more filter volume per unit weight. These products have no crystalline silica and do not trap bacteria resulting in lowered requirements of chlorine and coagulants.
Bent glass
Bent glass has been on the building scene since the early 19th century. This dynamic product is growing in proportion of its use with the development of glass technology, improving safety properties and the energy saving properties available in glass.
Bent glass adds greatly to the aesthetic potential of design. The curved surfaces give a building its own personality, creating the whole or a part of the façade.
With a growing proportion of bent glass been processed to make safety glass, bent glass can also be laminated for specialized categories like bullet resistant. There is also widening scope of available products in terms of available sizes. This may then be increasingly used in both facades and interior architecture.
So far bent glass has primarily been used in public buildings, office complexes and for corporate facility facades. Interior architecture applications for bent glass include railings for staircases, walkways, partitions and elevator glass panels.
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Article by,
Ms.Soma Soundharya
Asst.Prof.
Department of Civil Engineering
Sphoorthy Engineering College, Nadergul
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| Sphoorthy Engineering College |
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