Possibilities of use of glass recyclate from photovoltaic panels for concrete masonry units

Abstract

The paper deals with the possibilities of use of glass recyclate from photovoltaic panels for concrete masonry units. It compares different recipes and its physical and mechanical properties with the focus on the compressive strength, density. It then compares the values of these recipes with the values of commonly used composite materials for masonry units without recyclates. Recycling of materials from photovoltaic panels is a highly discussed topic nowadays. The paper presents possibility for secondary use of glass from these panels in building industry, namely the substitution of aggregate in concrete with glass recyclate.

The Use of Glass from Photovoltaic Panels at the End of Their Life Cycle in Cement Composites

“…Another type of cement was used for the research, namely CEM II 32.5 R. An average compressive strength of about 11.7 MPa was achieved in this case. In the second recipe, where recycled glass and one fraction of aggregate were used, the average compressive strength was 21.8 MPa [28]. In our experimental recipes, an average value of flexural strength of 28 MPa and a compressive strength of 40 MPa were achieved after 28 days.…”

Concrete mixtures with photovoltaic panels glass: a review of the situation in Czech Republic

“…The research of concrete mixtures containing PV glass began to acquire useful information, and other studies began to deal with the design and testing of applications from these materials. Another research [10] describes an experiment in which the authors determined the loose bulk density and voids of recycled glass from PV panels according to the standard ČSN EN 1097. The authors also prepared two concrete recipes, recipe A and recipe B, with recipe A containing both recycled glass and one fraction of aggregate, and recipe B containing only recycled glass.…”

“…The average compressive strength of recipe A is 21.8 MPa and the average compressive strength of recipe B is 11.7 MPa. The authors also compare the compressive strength and density of their concrete with YTONG, a widely used lightweight aerated concrete and concluded that the strengths of concrete units with recycled glass from PV panels are satisfactory for use in building foundations and load-bearing structures of low-rise buildings [10].…”

Environmental and Circular Economy Implications of Solar Energy in a Decarbonized U.S. Grid

“…Literature reveals open-loop recycling pathways wherein materials recovered from PV modules are used in non-PV applications. The materials recovered from c-Si PV modules can potentially be reused in lithium-ion batteries, 236 cement and concrete, [237][238][239] paper production, 240 ceramic tiles, 241 geopolymers, 242 clay bricks, 243 and medical applications 244 (Figure 3). Conversely, there is scope to reuse materials recovered from non-PV products in PV systems.…”