Abstract
This article deals with the use of photovoltaic panels at the end of their life cycle in cement composites. Attention is focused on the properties of cement composite after 100% replacement of natural aggregate with recycled glass from photovoltaic panels. This goal of replacing natural filler sources with recycled glass is based on the updated policy of the Czech Republic concerning secondary raw materials for the period of 2019–2022, which aims to increase the self-sufficiency of the Czech Republic in raw materials by replacing primary sources with secondary raw materials. The policy also promotes the use of secondary raw materials as a tool to reduce the material and energy demands of industrial production and supports the innovations and development of a circular economy within business. The research has shown that it is possible to prepare cement composite based on recycled glass from solar panels, with compressive and flexural strength after 28 days exceeding 40 MPa and 4 MPa. Furthermore, a possible modification of the cement composite with different pigments has been confirmed, without disrupting the contact zone.
Highlights
Photovoltaic technology is one of the renewable energy sources with a relatively long lifespan, which is estimated at 30 years at least
Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste from electrical and electronic equipment stipulates from 15 August 2018 that at least 85% of photovoltaic panel materials must be recovered and 80% of materials must be prepared for re-use and recycled [3]
A panel consists of a front layer–impact-resistant glass, an EVA layer, a solar cell placed below the EVA layer and a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) back side or a combination of polyvinyl fluoride with polyethylene terephthalate (PTE)
Summary
Photovoltaic technology is one of the renewable energy sources with a relatively long lifespan, which is estimated at 30 years at least. In the case of partial replacement of cement with waste glass in the form of glass powder, CO2 emissions are reduced, which helps to improve the environmental conditions and to reduce the amount of waste glass that would otherwise be landfilled [11]. Another option is to replace natural aggregate with photovoltaic glass in various fractions. Since waste glass is considered a pozzolanic material, it can be used as a partial replacement of cement in the production of ultra-high strength concrete (UHPC) [12]. Finer fractions of waste glass in a suitable ratio have a positive effect on the mechanical properties of concrete due to high pozzolanic reactivity and low alkali-silica reaction (ASR) [17]
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