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Development of a Non-Structural Prefabricated Panel Based on Construction and Demolition Waste for Sustainable Construction
Summary
This study developed a prefabricated non-structural building panel by combining recycled microplastics with construction and demolition waste in mortar, finding that a 20% construction waste blend achieved compressive strength above 31 MPa and that panels with recycled materials showed up to 39 dB sound reduction and 21°C thermal improvement. The research demonstrates a practical pathway for diverting microplastic waste from the environment by incorporating it into building materials. Using microplastics as a construction input could help reduce both plastic pollution and the environmental footprint of the construction industry.
The study focuses on developing a prefabricated panel for non-structural purposes by optimizing mortar mix designs incorporating recycled microplastic (RMP) and construction demolition waste (CDW) at various ratios (0, 10, 20, 30, and 100%). Experimental procedures encompassed material characterization, mortar specimen manufacturing, compression resistance testing, and thermal/acoustic panel tests following Colombian technical standards. Results indicate that incorporating 20% CDW enhances material strength, with cylinder number 3 (20% of CDW) achieving a resistance of 31.45 MPa. Panels incorporating recyclable waste materials show improved acoustic and thermal insulation properties, with up to 39 dB reduction in sound transmission and a 21 °C decrease in thermal transmission observed (5.6% and 35% for panel and door, respectively). This research advances sustainable construction practices demonstrating the potential of prefabricated panels using recyclable materials, offering eco-friendly solutions with enhanced performance characteristics for construction applications.