Sustainable Approach to Utilization of Waste Glass Fibers and Basalt Powder as Potential Additives in Epoxy-Based Composites for Reparation of Concrete Structures

The growing production of glass fibers is a major challenge due to the later problem of their sustainable recycling. This article reports the potential use of post-production waste glass fibers and basalt powder as additives in resin compounds designed for repairing concrete elements. The aim of this research was to develop a repair compound based on epoxy resin with the addition of waste materials, offering a competitive alternative to currently available repair compounds on the market by utilizing lower-cost materials and addressing pro-environmental aspects through waste reuse. The prepared research samples were characterized by varying proportions of basalt powder (0-20%), ground HP 12 fibers (40/60%), and HP 6 fibers (10/20%). A series of tests, including tensile strength tests, were conducted as part of this study to determine the effect of the applied additives on the ultimate tensile force and maximum deformations. Abrasion resistance tests were also carried out to evaluate the impact of basalt powder as a filler on enhancing the abrasion resistance of the designed repair compound. Additionally, SEM and EDS analyses were used to evaluate the uniformity and distribution of the additives within the sample. This study examined samples containing varying percentages of basalt powder and fibers, both virgin and milled. The most significant reinforcement effect was observed for sample E/20HP/20bp, where its tensile strength decreased by 8%, while its abrasion resistance increased by 44% compared to the reference sample. The obtained results confirm that incorporating waste materials as additives into epoxy resin can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of repair compounds while reducing cost and promoting environmental protection. In addition, the repair compound developed complies with the selected principles within the 6Rs environmental regulations: RECYCLING (reuse of waste glass fibers), RETHINK (reduce environmental impact by avoiding landfill), REDUCE (minimize the use of virgin glass fibers in the production of repair compounds) and REPAIR (increase the efficiency of repairing damaged concrete structures). Furthermore, as the percentage of basalt powder increases, the abrasion resistance of the repair compound improves. The obtained repair compounds may serve as an alternative to currently used compounds for the repair of bridges and factory floors.