SBIR Phase I: Evaporative Cooling Building Envelope Materials Created from Recycled Glass

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目的重点是废弃玻璃的再利用，以产生混凝土和砖石等标准建筑围护结构材料的可持续替代品。正在开发的材料由95%以上的废玻璃组成，不含对环境有害的添加剂。与传统的砖石和混凝土产品相比，它们的生产能耗减少了80%，碳足迹也减少了。然而，制造这些材料的过程赋予了独特的内部微孔结构，导致水分渗透控制不足。该项目将研究材料的强度特性，并探索应用环保密封胶以减少或消除吸湿的可行性。第一阶段的研究将开发可持续涂料的应用方法，并对复合材料的密封剂相容性和水力特性进行后续分析。各种密封剂将根据最终应用要求进行表征。第一阶段计划将生产样品，供客户和合作伙伴在各种应用环境中进行评估。这个项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是巨大的。第一期工程的顺利完成将对玻璃回收业和建造业产生积极影响。本提案中的研究将为玻璃制造建立一种新的方法，并将为废玻璃提供一个商业出口，特别是目前无法回收的大量废玻璃，因此被简单地拖到垃圾填埋场。这种材料将允许制造商采用具有成本效益的绿色产品线，并通过提供传统饰面材料的真正绿色替代品，为建筑行业带来价值。这种新型建筑材料的环境和社会影响包括通过减少能源消耗和相关的温室气体排放来改善环境质量，并通过最大限度地减少固体废物储存基础设施的负担。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is focused on the reuse of waste glass to generate sustainable replacements for standard building envelope materials such as concrete and masonry. The materials being developed are comprised of over 95 percent waste glass and contain no environmentally harmful additives. When compared to conventional masonry and concrete products, they require up to 80 percent less energy to produce, and have a reduced carbon footprint. However, the process to manufacture these materials imparts a unique internal microporous structure that results in inadequate control of moisture penetration. This project will investigate the strength characteristics of the material and will explore the viability of applying environmentally responsible sealants to reduce or eliminate moisture absorption. The Phase I research will result in the development of methods for applying sustainable coatings, coupled with a subsequent analysis of sealant compatibility and hydraulic characterization of the composite material. A variety of sealants will be characterized based on final application requirements. The Phase I program will lead to the production of samples for evaluation by clients and partners in a variety of application settings. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is significant. Successful completion of our Phase I activities will have a positive impact on both the glass recycling and building industries. The research in this proposal will establish a new approach for glass manufacturing and will provide a commercial outlet for waste glass, particularly the vast quantity that cannot currently be recycled, and therefore is simply hauled to the landfills. This material will allow manufacturers to adopt cost-effective green product lines and will also bring value to the construction industry by providing a truly green alternative to traditional facing materials. The environmental and societal impacts of this novel building material include improving environmental quality by decreasing energy consumption, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, and by minimizing the burden on the solid waste storage infrastructure.