Recycling Glass Packaging into Ceramic Bricks

Wastes regularly discarded by the society, such as post-consumption packaging glass, are increasingly contributing to the environmental pollution. A possible solution could be its incorporation into a clay body to fabricate common fired ceramics for civil construction. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of this waste, at different particle sizes, in technological properties of clayey body. This glass powder was tested for X-ray fluorescence and optical dilatometry. Specimens were uniaxially pressed at 25 MPa and fired up to 1000 degrees C. The technological properties were evaluated in terms of water absorption, linear shrinkage, and flexural rupture strength. The results indicated that the waste incorporation improved both the ceramic water absorption and the mechanical strength. Finally, this work indicated that clay brick production is a viable and technically advantageous alternative for recycling this type of waste, also bringing benefits to the quality of ceramics.