Properties of the Mortar Composites Containing Waste Polycarbonate Particles: A Preliminary Study

Sustainability is a key issue in the building and construction sector, which is credited as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for around 37% of global emissions. Among many pathways to sustainability, the possibility of adopting end-of-life materials as lightweight/insulating agents appears very promising given that it contributes to reducing the pressure on virgin resources and provides a new market for waste materials, that are usually disposed of by incineration or landfilling. This is particularly true for plastic waste, which is harmful in many ways, some of which have only recently been studied and appreciated. In this work, we present the preliminary results of thermal, acoustic, and mechanical testing of specimens of mortar-based composite materials that incorporate end-of-life polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer that finds many applications considering its optical properties. In this study, polycarbonate is obtained from grinding end-of-life clear sheets that are used for roofing. As a result, the polycarbonate is severely degraded by atmospheric agents and is unsuitable for remixing with virgin polycarbonate. Two degraded polycarbonate qualities are considered, which differ by the amount of exposure to UV rays (indoor vs outdoor applications). We show that the resulting material retains significant mechanical properties while acquiring interesting thermal insulation capabilities, which makes it a sustainable alternative for lightweight flooring solutions.