Abstract
The paper describes the possible applications of expanded polystyrene (EPS) granulate derived from recycling for the production of prefabricated building units. Test results of a new material called Polytec and its application in the construction industry are presented. The polytec construction system is based on prefabricated large-panel units. An important advantage of the new material is the volume representation of EPS granulate, which reaches up to 60-70%. So far - in order to keep the proper strength of the manufactured structures lightweight, concretes containing up to 40% of EPS were used. Increasing the EPS volume in a mixture containing modified cement mortar increases the thermal insulation of the material and, at the same time, reduces the strength of Polytec units. The higher volume representation of recycling EPS granulate enables effective waste management and allows decreasing the use of natural aggregate in the mixture. This, in turn, contributes to more effective environmental protection and lower carbon dioxide emission. An innovative solution for monitoring the strain of selected elements of the Polytec system was proposed based on optical fiber sensors with Bragg grating. They enable conducting both static and dynamic measurements. The monitoring system was installed in a building made of prefabricated elements.
Highlights
The idea of using recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) appeared with an increasing problem of utilization of styrofoam waste
On a volume basis, EPS forms nearly 7% of solid waste in landfills in some countries. Since it is a nonbiodegradable material, EPS contributes significantly to the pollution of the environment, and in many European countries these products are being totally banned from landfills, with the originating manufacturer being responsible for their collection, recycling, or disposal [1]
The parameters of fragmented EPS used as thermal insulation do not change significantly
Summary
The idea of using recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) appeared with an increasing problem of utilization of styrofoam waste. On a volume basis, EPS forms nearly 7% of solid waste in landfills in some countries Since it is a nonbiodegradable material, EPS contributes significantly to the pollution of the environment, and in many European countries these products are being totally banned from landfills, with the originating manufacturer being responsible for their collection, recycling, or disposal [1]. Waste such as ESP, cork, and tire are often used as additional ingredients in building materials, because they can improve the acoustic and thermal properties [2,3,4,5]
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