New composite materials based on glass waste

Recycling of exhausted fluorescent tubes and lamps decreases environmental contamination from mercury, cadmium, lead and rare-earth phosphorous salts. In this study fluorescent glass waste were reused as raw material in composite materials to convert them from an environmental and economic burden to a profitable, added-value-resources. The effect of coarse and fine glass particles in the resin was studied by preparing mono and bi-layer composites. The properties of composites, including impact resistance, scratch resistance, flexural properties and chemical properties (water, acid and basic resistance) were examined. Based on the findings of this work, it appears evident that the bi-layer composite provided better mechanical properties.