Development of Epoxy Grout Containing Fine Waste from Production of Mineral Wool Board Insulation

Abstract

Within this work, it was experimentally verified that the waste from mineral wool board insulation production (WIRG) with high portion of glass recyclate (> 80%) and no organic material seems like ideal filler for polymer grouting materials. The main objective was to develop a progressive grout on epoxy basis with as high content of this secondary raw material as possible, while achieving physical and mechanical properties as e.g. very fast strength increase and high thermal resistance. With regard to the consistency of epoxy grout in the fresh state, three different filling were tested, namely 60%, 65% and 70%. The grout with lower filling is too fluid, and it is also disadvantageous from an economic point of view because a large amount of epoxy resin is used. On the other hand, at higher filing, it is not possible to mix the filler into epoxy resin properly. Setting of an optimal filler content in the mixture was performed mostly on the basis of the results of compressive and three-point flexural strength test. It was found out that the optimal amount of the filler is 65%. In case of the best formulation with optimal filler content (65% WIRG), the thermal resistance was monitored by determination of the glass transition temperature (Tg) by the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) method. Furthermore, the optical microscope with high resolution was used to monitor filler distribution and homogeneity of the hardened developed epoxy grout.