Glass Fraction Research Articles

Sulfur vacancy-rich bismuth sulfide nanowire derived from CAU-17 for radioactive iodine capture in complex environments: Performance and intrinsic mechanisms

Effective capture and immobilization of volatile radioiodine from the off-gas of post-treatment plants is crucial for nuclear safety and public health, considering its long half-life, high toxicity, and environmental mobility. Herein, sulfur vacancy-rich Vs-Bi2S3@C nanocomposites were systematically synthesized via a one-step solvothermal vulcanization of CAU-17 precursor. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the as-synthesized materials exhibited superior iodine adsorption capacity (1505.8 mg g−1 at 200 °C), fast equilibrium time (60 min), and high chemisorption ratio (91.7%), which might benefit from the nanowire structure and abundant sulfur vacancies of Bi2S3. Furthermore, Vs-Bi2S3@C composites exhibited excellent iodine capture performance in complex environments (high temperatures, high humidity and radiation exposure). Mechanistic investigations revealed that the I2 capture by fabricated materials primarily involved the chemical adsorption between Bi2S3 and I2 to form BiI3, and the interaction of I2 with electrons provided by sulfur vacancies to form polyiodide anions (I3-). The post-adsorbed iodine samples were successfully immobilized into commercial glass fractions in a stable form (BixOyI), exhibiting a normalized iodine leaching rate of 3.81 × 10−5 g m−2 d−1. Overall, our work offers a novel strategy for the design of adsorbent materials tailed for efficient capture and immobilization of volatile radioiodine.

Influence of fiber types on the properties of the artificial cold-bonded lightweight aggregates

Abstract The cold-bonded pelletizing method is often employed in aggregate production since it uses less energy and helps reduce issues with gas emissions, contributing to economic and environmental benefits. In this study, fly ash was chosen as the raw material and used to partially replace cement in manufacturing artificial aggregate. Three types of fibers (polypropylene, polystyrene, and glass fiber) in different volume fractions were used to investigate their effect on the properties of the artificial cold-bonded lightweight aggregate. After the manufacturing process, aggregates were cured with a 28-day water curing. Their specific gravity, water absorption, density, impact value, and crushing value were tested to analyze the properties of the cold-bonded artificial aggregate. Results show that adding various volume fractions of PS, glass, and PP fibers during pelletization caused a more stable generation of aggregates with enhanced mechanical and physical properties.

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization of Y2O3 and La2O3 doped Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glass.

Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (LAS) glass ceramics have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high mechanical strength, and excellent chemical stability. With advancements in glass ceramics, researchers have explored using LAS glass ceramics with transition metal doping and rare earth doping. Most previous studies have studied the impact of rare earth element doping on crystallization primarily in the context of conventional nucleating agents present in glass. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of Y2O3 and La2O3 on LAS glasses in the presence of undoped nucleating agents. The crystallization mechanism of La2O3 and Y2O3 doped LAS glass ceramics was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallization kinetics of the glasses were analyzed using model-free and modeling methods. Moreover, the activation energy of crystallization and the indices of crystallization and growth of glass ceramics were calculated, and the crystalline phase and microstructure of the samples were characterized. All three fractions of the LAS glass showed consistent crystallization under different calculation methods. The glass doped with La2O3 and Y2O3 exhibited two- or three-dimensional growth during crystallization, promoting crystallization in the LAS glass. The Y3La0 sample demonstrated the most favorable crystallization effect. In the presence of an undoped nucleating agent, rare earth elements can enhance glass crystallization; this new idea can be utilized for the development of new materials.

Formation of Cellular Concrete Structures Based on Waste Glass and Liquid Glass

The use of waste in the production of building materials is one of the possible ways to solve problems related to the sustainable management of non-degradable waste and difficult-to-recycle secondary resources. In this paper, a method is proposed for the non-autoclave production of an ultra-lightweight cellular concrete based on Portland cement, glass waste and liquid glass. A mixture of sodium hexafluorosilicate and hydroxide is used as a hardening activator, an aluminum powder serves as a gas-forming agent. The setting and hardening of raw mixtures occurs under the action of exothermal heat release due to a complex of chemical reactions occurring in the system, and the resulting material does not require additional heat treatment. It is optimal to use two fractions of glass waste to achieve acceptable material strength: coarse crushed (fineness modulus Fm = 0.945) and finely ground (specific surface Ssp = 450–550 m2/kg) glass. Glass particles of the fine fraction of glass, along with Portland cement, participate in hydrolytic and structure-forming processes, while glass particles of the coarse fraction play the role of reinforcing filler. The influence of the dispersion of glass and the density of liquid glass on the density, porosity, strength, water absorption and water resistance of the resulting cellular material was determined. At an average density of cellular concrete in the dry state of 150–320 kg/m3, the following characteristics can be achieved: a compressive strength up to 2.0 MPa, bending strength up to 0.38 MPa, thermal conductivity coefficient of the material in the range 0.05–0.09 W/(K·m), and a maximum operating temperature of 800 °C. The proposed ultra-lightweight cellular concrete can be used as a non-combustible heat and sound insulation material, as well as a repairing composition; the cellular concrete blocks can be used as filling masonry and for the construction of non-bearing internal walls.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Efficacy of Borosilicate Compound against Escherichia coli

In this study, a glassy borosilicate compound was synthesized using recycled glass and natural clays. Even though glass recycling is the generally accepted standard practice for managing glass waste, fine fractions of container soda-lime glass or cullet of other compositions are still disposed of in landfills. Thus, advanced upcycled products that offer greater economic motivation for implementation in industry may be the key to success, but these are frequently linked to alternative methods of product synthesis. Here, a simple and facile route of borosilicate compound production has been synthesized and characterized. The physicochemical characterization of the compounds was carried out to determine their properties and the antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized compound against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated. The structural and spectroscopic characteristics were identified as a compound that conformed to quartz, cristobalite, and silicon hexaboride (SiB6). For the antibacterial activity, two test types were typically performed; in the first one, the dilutions of the grind were combined with chloramphenicol at a concentration of 20 µg/mL to perform a synergistic action against the bacteria and in the second one, only the amorphous borosilicate compound was tested against E. coli ATCC 25922 strains. The treatments applied considered the dilutions from 8 to 40 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) sensitivity tests began with incubation at 37 °C in the tubes and subsequent seeding in Petri dishes for colony-forming unit (CFU) counting. The results obtained indicated that the samples possessed a productive antibacterial effect, which support their use in various biomedical applications.

Modeling and Experimental Study of Packing Density of Foam Glass Concrete

The paper deals with the process of production and properties of foam glass concrete – a composite material consisting of modified gypsum binder and granulated foam glass as an aggregate. Foam glass concrete has high strength, durability, environmental friendliness and low thermal conductivity, which makes it a promising material for wall structures. Optimal packing densities were obtained by using programs developed by the authors in the Python programming language to calculate the optimal diameters of three fractions of granular foam glass in an orthogonal or hexagonal packing model. The compressive and flexural strength and thermal conductivity coefficient were investigated on samples of different compositions. The value of the thermal conductivity coefficient of the foam glass concrete was reduced due to the air-entraining additive. In conclusion, the optimum composition of foam glass concrete was proposed taking into account all investigated parameters.

Mechanical properties of interply and intraply hybrid laminates based on jute-glass/epoxy composites

Currently, hybridization of natural-synthetic fibers within a polymeric matrix has received wide attention owing to its promising properties. This study investigated the mechanical properties of interply and intraply hybrid jute (J)-glass (G) fiber/epoxy composites. The mechanical properties (i.e., tensile, flexural, and impact) of the pure jute, pure glass, and their hybrid composites were evaluated. The prepared composite samples consisted of five plies of woven fabrics. Interply hybrid composites comprised three layering sequences: G3JG, GJGJG, and 2GJ2G. Intraply hybrid composites of similar co-woven plies were fabricated by either the alternative replacement of a single glass yarn with a single jute yarn (G1J1) or two jute yarns (G1J2). The results showed that increasing the glass fraction in the interply hybrid composites improved their tensile properties. The two intraply hybrid composites provided almost similar tensile moduli, while the tensile strength of the G1J1 samples was approximately 41% higher than that of the G1J2 counterparts. The maximum flexural properties were provided by 2GJ2G composites, followed by GJGJG, and they were interestingly higher than those of pure glass composites. The G1J1 intraply hybrid composites offered a higher flexural strength and a lower flexural modulus than those provided by the pure glass composites. Compared to the pure glass composites, the impact strengths of the 2GJ2G and GJGJG samples decreased by 4% and 16%, respectively. In summary, the GJGJG hybrid composites exhibited the highest specific tensile, flexural, and impact properties compared to the other hybrid composites.

Phases in fine volcanic ash

Volcanic ash emissions impact atmospheric processes, depositional ecosystems, human health, and global climate. These effects are sensitive to the size and composition of the ash; however, datasets describing the constituent phases over size ranges relevant for atmospheric transport and widely distributed impacts are practically nonexistent. Here, we present results of X-ray diffraction measurements on size-separated fractions of 40 ash samples from VEI 2–6 eruptions. We characterize changes in phase fractions with grainsize, tectonic setting, and whole-rock SiO2. For grainsizes < 45 μm, average fractions of crystalline silica and surface salts increased while glass and iron oxides decreased with respect to the bulk sample. Samples from arc and intraplate settings are distinguished by feldspar and clinopyroxene fractions (determined by different crystallization sequences) which, together with glass, comprise 80–100% of most samples. We provide a dataset to approximate glass-free proportions of major crystalline phases; however, glass fractions are highly variable. To tackle this, we describe regressions between glass and major crystal phase fractions that help constrain the major phase proportions in volcanic ash with limited a priori information. Using our dataset, we find that pore-free ash density is well-estimated as a function of the clinopyroxene + Fe-oxide fraction, with median values of 2.67 ± 0.01 and 2.85 ± 0.03 g/cm3 for intraplate and arc samples, respectively. Finally, we discuss effects including atmospheric transport and alteration on modal composition and contextualize our proximal airfall ash samples with volcanic ash cloud properties. Our study helps constrain the atmospheric and environmental budget of the phases in fine volcanic ash and their effect on ash density, integral to refine our understanding of the impact of explosive volcanism on the Earth system from single eruptions to global modeling.

Processing municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash for integration into cement product manufacture

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash (BA) contains the elemental composition necessary for cement and concrete production and is a feasible substitute for high-value markets such as cement kiln feed (CKF) and supplementary cementitious material (SCM), providing an opportunity to recycle materials that are typically landfilled. This study explores the physical and chemical properties of individual components of MSWI BA—glass, ceramic, concrete, and slag—for use in cement product manufacture. Elemental oxide data reveals MSWI BA contains a variable composition of elements necessary for clinker formation. For example, MSWI BA concrete has a calcium content (33–40%) similar to that of limestone (64%) used in CKF. Compressive strength of mortar made with MSWI BA glass and ceramic is about 75% that of the control. Elemental analysis and isothermal calorimetry confirm that MSWI BA glass and ceramic fractions have the strength and elemental composition for use as an SCM compared to slag and concrete.

Glass recovery and production of manufactured aggregate from MSWI bottom ashes from fluidized bed and grate incineration by means of enhanced treatment

Enhanced treatment of incineration bottom ashes (IBA) from municipal solid waste incineration can contribute to a circular economy since not only metals can be recovered but also glass for recycling. Moreover, the remaining mineral fraction can be utilized in concrete as manufactured aggregate. To evaluate the effects of an enhanced treatment, three IBAs from fluidized bed combustion (FB-IBAs) and three grate incineration bottom ashes (G-IBAs) were standardly treated in a jig and further processed on a pilot scale, including improved metal recovery and sensor-based glass separation. The removed glass fractions were weighed and their composition was assessed by means of manual sorting. The manufactured aggregate was also sorted manually and its total and leachate contents were determined before and after aging. Results showed general differences between FB-IBAs and G-IBAs. For G-IBAs, higher contents of heavy metals and residual metal pieces were determined, while the share of glass removed was low compared to FB-IBA. The treated mineral fractions from G-IBA contained more mineral agglomerates, whereas FB-IBAs contained more glass. However, the glass-fractions removed from FB-IBAs need further treatment to be accepted in glass recycling. Austrian limit values for utilization in concrete were met by all manufactured aggregates produced from FB-IBA, but only by one from G-IBA. Overall, the enhanced treatment in the study performed well compared to the literature. Nevertheless, further investigations are necessary to improve the recyclability of the recovered glass fractions and to determine the technical suitability of manufactured aggregates produced from IBAs.

A two-phase analysis of the use of water-aluminum nanofluid in a solar still with a layer of phase change materials

This study employed the finite element method to simulate a solar still three-dimensionally. Aluminum nanoparticles were used in the still's tank, at the bottom of which was a layer of the N-auxin Phase Change Material (PCM). The variables of the problem included the degree of solar radiation for 12 different hours a day, the 10–45˚ angle of the front glass plate of the still, and the ambient temperature ranging from 293˚K to 330˚K. The effects of these variables on the air temperature, glass, PCM, and PCM volume fraction were examined. A two-phase method was used to analyze the nanofluid in the tank. The results showed that solar radiation generally had the highest effect on the maximum PCM temperature, maximum air temperature, and PCM volume fraction. However, the drop in the ambient temperature had the maximum impact on the maximum glass temperature. The PCM inside the solar still made the maximum air temperature slightly higher in the evenings than in the mornings. As a result, the maximum glass temperature could reach 330˚K at the ambient temperature of 330˚K and maximum solar radiation. In the last hours of the study, a decline in the angle of the solar still's front plate reduced the volume fraction of the molten PCM. Besides, at the 10˚ angle of the still's front plate, a drop in the outside temperature led the PCM to freeze faster.

Influence of adding steel – glass – polypropylene fibers on the strength and flexural behaviour of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete

This experimental research investigates the strength and load deflection characteristics of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete. Two or more types of fibers are combined to improve the overall properties of concrete. Grade of concrete chosen for study is M40 and the specimens were incorporated with 0.75% volume fraction of Steel, Glass and polypropylene fibers in equal proportions and in different combinations. This study primarily focused on compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural tensile strength of composite with two types of fiber combinations. Results were compared with non-fibrous control concrete and strength effectiveness was observed to be more in Steel- Polypropylene fibers combination. Negative results were produced by Glass- polypropylene hybrid fiber composites. Based on the best strength results reinforced concrete beam specimen is made with Steel – polypropylene hybrid fiber combinations as a secondary reinforcement and it is tested under flexural loading conditions. Load deflection behaviour and crack studies were carried out on tested beam specimens. Finally experimental results were compared with Finite element software results and close agreement was observed between them.

The effects of submarine alteration and phosphatization on igneous rocks: Implications for Sr-, Nd-, Pb-isotope studies

A suite of fresh and variably phosphatized submarine volcanic rock samples from NW Pacific seamounts from the Mid Cretaceous were subject of a detailed trace element and isotopic leaching study to examine the effect of phosphate alteration on the use of Sr-, Nd-, and Pb- radiogenic isotope systems. The study particularly focuses on the behavior of the respective parent/daughter element pairs during phosphatization and leaching in order to evaluate the impact on radiogenic ingrowth correction (“age correction”) for old seafloor samples and their use in geochemical studies. For this purpose, variably intense leaching procedures (no leaching; 2 M HCl at 70 °C for 1 h; 6 M HCl at 130 °C for 3 h) were applied to diverse sample materials (rock powder, rock chips and fresh volcanic glass chips).Phosphatization causes significant modification of isotope ratios and elemental proportions of most trace elements including the rare earth elements. As opposed to common seafloor weathering, Rb/Sr decreases in the lavas with increasing phosphatization, while U/Pb enrichment appears slightly amplified. Mild acid leaching of rock chips, however, generally yields Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios largely in accordance with values from fresh glass fractions of the same samples and comparable with the results for similarly leached rock powders. Applying original (non-leached) elemental concentration ratios for the radiogenic age correction of mildly leached sample chips produces mixed results for 87Sr/86Srin but generally agrees with expected 143Nd/144Ndin, 206Pb/204Pbin, 207Pb/204Pbin, and 208Pb/204Pbin values.All residua of strongly leached powders yield significantly more radiogenic 206Pb/204Pbm, 143Nd/144Ndm and higher U/Pb than mildly leached rock chips or powders or even non-leached powder of the respective samples, opposite to what is expected when removing seawater-derived secondary phases by stronger acid leaching. We suggest that this enrichment, after removal of most of the magmatic Pb and Nd, reflects minor refractory components that formed in association with the phosphatization and developed high 206Pb/204Pb ratios by radiogenic ingrowth since the eruption of these lavas in the Mid Cretaceous due to high U/Pb.Utilizing modeled parent/daughter ratios based on magma evolution systematics of associated fresh glass yields no satisfying initial isotopic compositions for the strongly leached samples despite supposed removal of secondary isotopic signals upon leaching. Applying the modeled parent/daughter ratios to age correct mildly leached sample chips and powder otherwise slightly improves the accordance with their respective fresh glass fractions for 208Pb/204Pbin but yields similar results as if using the actual parent/daughter ratios for 143Nd/144Ndin, 86Sr/87Srin, 206Pb/204Pbin, and 207Pb/204Pbin.

Physical and Mechanical Behavior of New Ternary and Hybrid Eco-Cements Made from Construction and Demolition Waste.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) currently constitutes a waste stream with growing potential use as a secondary raw material in the manufacture of eco-cements that offer smaller carbon footprints and less clinker content than conventional cements. This study analyzes the physical and mechanical properties of two different cement types, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, and the synergy between them. These cements are manufactured with different types of CDW (fine fractions of concrete, glass and gypsum) and are intended for new technological applications in the construction sector. This paper addresses the chemical, physical, and mineralogical characterization of the starting materials, as well as the physical (water demand, setting time, soundness, water absorption by capillary action, heat of hydration, and microporosity) and mechanical behavior of the 11 cements selected, including the two reference cements (OPC and commercial CSA). From the analyses obtained, it should be noted that the addition of CDW to the cement matrix does not modify the amount of water by capillarity with respect to OPC cement, except for Labo CSA cement which increases by 15.7%, the calorimetric behavior of the mortars is different depending on the type of ternary and hybrid cement, and the mechanical resistance of the analysed mortars decreases. The results obtained show the favorable behavior of the ternary and hybrid cements made with this CDW. Despite the variations observed in the different types of cement, they all comply with the current standards applicable to commercial cements and open up a new opportunity to improve sustainability in the construction sector.

Efficient utilization of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash for autoclaved aerated concrete formulation

Contrary to the previous research on the general utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration bottom ash (IBA) in autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), the given study strategically utilizes IBA for AAC formulation to improve IBA utilization efficiency and to enhance the hardened properties of the resulting IBA-AACs. A systematic classification and characterization approach was used to determine the suitable IBA fractions for each ingredient. The classified IBA with particle size less than 0.3 mm (IBA fines), IBA glass fraction (IBA-G), and coarse non-ferrous IBA with particle size greater than 1.18 mm (coarse IBA-ONF) were used as calcium, silica, and metallic aluminum (as an aerating agent) resource, respectively. The resulting IBA-AACs showed much higher specific strengths (about 40% enhancement) than the Control AAC due to the formation of relatively pure tobermorite gel. The leaching test results confirmed the safe utilization of AAC during and after the service life. The utilization of classified IBA optimized the amount of IBA that can be incorporated in AAC.

Evaluation and Comparison of Fracture Toughness of Glass Fibre Reinforce Composites

The study of the behaviour of a broken structure or component under service conditions is known as fracture mechanics. Impurities, uneven curing, holes and notches are all sources of fractures. Cracks are common local discontinuities in materials caused by a variety of factors. Such discontinuities cause the structure's rigidity and consequently load bearing capability to deteriorate. It is known that for the crack to propagate, the stress in the locale of the crack tip should reach the critical value. Once stress level is critical, the crack propagates and leads to failure of the structure. A segment of the crack is divided into three modes namely Mode I (Opening mode), Mode II (sliding mode), Mode III (tearing mode). The current study presents a computational and experimental study on fractography and notch sensitivity evaluation in glass-fiber-reinforced-laminate under quasi-static load. For both numerical and experimental damage assessments, three volume fractions of glass and resin plies (50/50, 60/40, and 70/30) have been used. The fracture toughness investigation was carried out in accordance with ASTM standards, utilising a universal testing equipment. The numerical study is conducted out using the J-integral approach. The fracture toughness increases with resin content and is determined by the ductility of the plastic zone surrounding the crack tip. Within an acceptable range, the numerical findings are equivalent to the experimental values. When compared to the other modes, Mode 1 is the fatal. The mode I fracture toughness of several materials is evaluated experimentally and compared in this study.

Influence of Waste Glass Particle Size on the Physico-Mechanical Properties and Porosity of Foamed Geopolymer Composites Based on Coal Fly Ash.

In order to protect the environment and counteract climate change, it is necessary to take any actions that enable a reduction in CO2 emissions. One of the key areas is research focused on developing alternative sustainable materials for construction to reduce the global demand for cement. This work presents the properties of foamed geopolymers with the addition of waste glass as well as determined the optimal size and amount of waste glass for improving the mechanical and physical features of the produced composites. Several geopolymer mixtures were fabricated by replacing coal fly ash with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of waste glass by weight. Moreover, the effect of using different particle size ranges of the addition (0.1-1200 µm; 200-1200 µm; 100-250 µm; 63-120 µm; 40-63 µm; 0.1-40 µm) in the geopolymer matrix was examined. Based on the results, it was found that the application of 20-30% of waste glass with a particle size range of 0.1-1200 µm and a mean diameter of 550 µm resulted in approximately 80% higher compressive strength in comparison to unmodified material. Moreover, the samples produced using the smallest fraction (0.1-40 µm) of waste glass in the amount of 30% reached the highest specific surface area (43.711 m2/g), maximum porosity (69%), and density of 0.6 g/cm3.

Crystallization and electrical measurements of sintered qandilite (Mg2TiO4)-borosilicate glass composite

Qandilite Mg2TiO4 ceramic was prepared from MgO-TiO2 powder/borosilicate glass composite. Composite materials were prepared by nominal MgTiO3 alone and with 10, 30, and 50% borosilicate glass. The sintering process resulted in qandilite alone either in nominal Mg2TiO4 alone or with 10% glass. Incorporation of 30% and 50% glass gave crystalline magnesium titanate (MgTi2O5) in both sintered samples with either forsterite (Mg2SiO4) in 30% containing glass or rutile (TiO2) and enstatite (MgSiO3) in 50% containing glass. The microstructure of sintered samples presented clear tetragonal or octahedral which referred to qandilite in the case of nominal MgTiO3 alone or that containing 10% glass. Also, the later crystals appeared in the case of 70% glass-containing samples whereas in the case of 50% containing glass, in addition to the later clear crystals, rod-like crystals were embedded in glassy matrix. The dielectric constant of the studied composite samples was decreased with increasing the glass fraction until 30 wt%, and then increased to lead to the highest values of dielectric constant (⁓125 at room temperature and 1 kHz) at a glass fraction of 50 wt%. The activation energy (Ea) attained values in the range 0.145–0.438 eV. The results of Ea values and AC conductivity may indicate the dominance of electronic mechanism over the ionic transfer one in the studied sample. The prepared composite samples exhibited a semiconducting nature.

Long-term evolution of the climate change impacts of solid household waste management in Lappeenranta, Finland

Waste management processes have developed significantly in recent decades and will continue to change alongside the associated environmental impacts. This paper examines the climate change impacts of historical development in waste management, which has not received significant attention in the existing literature, while also exploring possible future developments. The city of Lappeenranta in Finland was selected as a case study, and the climate impacts of household waste (HW) management were calculated for the actual situations in 2009 and 2019 and the foreseen situation in 2029. Separately collected waste fractions of mixed residual waste (MRW), biowaste, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass were included in the analysis.The results show that the net climate change impact decreased considerably from 945 kgCO2-eq./tHW in 2009 to -141 kgCO2-eq./tHW in 2019 mainly by directing the MRW to energy recovery instead of landfill. The emissions responsible for climate change could be further reduced in 2029 by directing biowaste to digestion instead of composting and by directing more fractions to recycling; e.g., plastic, the impact of which is affected by the demand for recycled plastic. For the year 2029, the net climate change impact was -181 kgCO2-eq./tHW when heat produced from MRW displaced natural gas and was as high as 142 kgCO2-eq./tHW if the heat substituted biomass heat. The findings reveal that as energy production mixes and materials become less fossil carbon intensive, they have a significant impact on the net climate impacts of waste management.

Experimental investigation on mechanical properties and free vibration characteristics of epoxy‐based glass/flax laminates

AbstractIn the present study, an attempt is made to replace the synthetic glass fiber used in the FRP structures in terms of natural flax fibers without much sacrifice on static and dynamic stability of the structure. Three types of glass/flax hybrid composite laminates were prepared with different fiber volume fraction of glass and flax fibers. For better understanding purpose, a dedicated glass and dedicated flax laminates were also fabricated. All the laminates were fabricated by vacuum bag molding method with uniform laminate thickness. The mechanical properties of the fabricated laminates, such as tensile strength and flexural strength, were evaluated in accordance with ASTM standards. The impulse excitation technique was used to assess the free vibration characteristics of glass/flax laminates such as modal frequency and material damping. Based on experimentally evaluated mechanical and vibration characteristics a suitable fiber volume fraction for the preferred laminate thickness was suggested to achieve optimum static and dynamic stability.