Recovered glass can be used to produce an important construction product, academics have found.
A research paper put together by senior lecturer at London South Bank University Dr Olubisi Ige and others found that incorporation of recycled waste glass particles (RWGP) and lime “positively and significantly influenced the physico-mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks (CEBs)”.
Published in academic journal Discover Civil Engineering, the study looked at different make-ups of sustainable building blocks.
CEBs were tested after curing for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days to determine their water absorption, tensile strength and compressive strength properties.
The group said its experiments “strongly encourage the use of RWGP and lime as effective and eco-friendly stabilisers for producing standard CEBs as sustainable construction material”.
It said a 10 per cent RWGP and lime specimen had no visible cracks, which it credited to “compactness and the good bond of the mixture of the materials”.
“This contributed to the improved water resistance, compressive strength and tensile strength of the CEBs” the study added.
The academics said future studies could “assess the thermal and durability characteristics of CEBs stabilized with RWGP and lime and also conduct cost benefit analysis”.
