Glass Fragment Resin Composite Building Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current glass-based materials for civil and urban building are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to recycle, leading to high disposal and recycling costs, and inefficient waste management.

Innovation Solution

The production of lightweight, aesthetically appealing end-products using crushed and smoothed glass or crystal fragments mixed with resinous binders, optionally combined with light plastic layers and colored panels, to create decorative and functional items that can be easily recycled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glass-based materials are used for civil and urban building, then durability and aesthetic quality are improved, but weight and structural burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining glass or crystal fragments with resinous binders to create a new material system. This composite structure maintains the durability and aesthetic qualities of glass while significantly reducing the overall weight, as the resin matrix provides binding and structural support with much lower density than solid glass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes porous materials by incorporating air bubbles within the resin matrix. This creates a lightweight cellular structure that further reduces the weight of the building panels while maintaining adequate mechanical strength and durability through the distributed air pocket structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Shape

If traditional glass materials are used, then aesthetic quality is improved, but recycling difficulty and disposal costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidrecycling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by breaking down solid glass into small fragments or granules. This segmentation transforms the material into a form that is easier to separate and recycle, while the fragments can be重新combined with resin binders to create new aesthetic products, thus improving both recyclability and aesthetic quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by collecting glass fragments from waste streams (such as broken glass or post-consumer glass), processing them into standardized fragments, and reusing them in new resin-based composite products. This closes the material loop and makes recycling economically viable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Loss of substance

If glass fragments are used in building materials, then waste recycling is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste reductionVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials where glass fragments are embedded in a resinous binder matrix. The resin provides continuous structural support and bonds the glass fragments together, compensating for the potential weakness of fragmented glass. This composite structure achieves adequate structural strength while enabling waste glass recycling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the size, shape, and distribution of glass fragments, as well as adjusting the resin-to-glass ratio and curing parameters. These parameter optimizations ensure that the composite material achieves the required structural strength for building applications while maximizing waste glass utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution results in a product that reduces non-recoverable waste, lowers recycling and disposal costs, and provides a sustainable, aesthetically superior alternative to traditional materials with improved soundproofing and non-polluting properties.

Implementation Method 1

fragments or granules, in particular of crystal, having various forms and dimensions, joined to each other, inside certain moulds, by means of resinous chemical binders

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2004927B1End-products for civil and urban building
Publication Date: 2011.12.21 ECO EL
  • EP2004927B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2004927B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2004927B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for the production of end-products for civil and urban building whereby one or more layers of glass -based materials, compounds from crystal fragments joined to each other by means of resinous chemical binders are used, which can be subsequently coupled with at least one reflecting or transparent panel; a series of end-products are thus produced for civil and urban building, such as coating panels, ornament objects and fittings in general, having a strong visual, luminous and decorative impact. When end-products for false-ceilings are used, at least one layer of plastic material, of the type comprising air cushions, such as, for example, so-called "bubble" material, is coupled with the layers of glass -based material in order to lighten the structure.