Studying The Effects of Polyester Resin Added as a Binder in Manufacturing Tiles from Different Plastic Waste: Materials Characterization and Assessment of Mechanical Qualities

Abstract

The conversion of plastic waste into construction materials with properties comparable to those of conventional building materials, as well as the identification of practical applications for recycled plastics, represents an important strategy for reducing environmental pollution. In this study, plastic waste comprising high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was extruded, compressed, and moulded to produce tiles. Before compression, polyester resin was added as a binder at a concentration of 7.2% (v/w), along with a few drops of hardener.
Mechanical and environmental resistance tests showed that the tiles manufactured using polyester resin as a binder exhibited higher compressive strength, along with excellent tensile and flexural strength. Furthermore, the polyester binder improved the cohesion and hardness of the tiles and enhanced their resistance to bending. The manufactured tiles were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Thermal analysis (TGA and DSC) indicated that the addition of polyester resin enhanced the thermal stability of the tiles. XRD analysis revealed a highly crystalline structure in the tiles prepared with polyester resin, a finding further supported by FESEM observations.