Elucidating Characteristics of Geopolymer With Solar Panel Waste Glass

Abstract

This study examined the characteristics of geopolymer with solar panel waste glass. After 28 days of curing, the compressive strengths of the geopolymer samples containing 10 mass % and 20 mass % solar panel waste glass were 63.3± 1.8 and 49.1 ± 2.2 MPa, respectively. The geopolymer sample with 10% solar panel waste glass exhibited a stronger reaction than that with 20% solar panel waste glass, and the strength decreased as the amount of solar panel waste glass increased. Thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) results showed that the mass loss of geopolymer after heating declined as the amount of solar panel waste glass increased. The principal peaks in the Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra correspond to the Si-O-Al bond in geopolymer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that the microstructures of the stronger samples were more homogeneous, and the microstructures of geopolymer with 10% solar panel waste glass did not exhibit substantial deterioration. The experimental results indicate that solar panel waste glass has the potential to serve as a partial replacement of metakaolinite and exhibits favorable mechanic characteristics.