The paper presents an analysis of the possibility of using glass waste from worn out lighting materials as an aggregate for a polymer concrete. Glass waste was obtained from the company utilizing glass lighting elements, which was then subjected to crushing. The aggregate obtained was subjected to the tests of basic features, which were compared with aggregates that are traditionally applied to concretes. The next stage of the research program was the production of a polymer concrete that contained glass aggregate. Several types of mixtures were prepared in which glass waste was combined in various proportions with traditional sand–gravel aggregate. As a part of the research, the basic physical and mechanical characteristics of polymer concretes were determined. The microstructure of composites was also analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The results of the research have shown that the aggregate obtained from glass waste can be successfully used for the production of a polymer concrete. The most beneficial physico-mechanical properties were obtained for a composite in which glass waste was used as a 50% substitute for traditional aggregate.

The paper presents an analysis of the possibilities of using glass waste from recycled lighting materials as aggregates for cement concrete. The research material was obtained from a company that utilizes electrical waste. Glass from pre-sorted elements was transported to the laboratory and crushed in a drum crusher. In this way, the aggregate obtained was subjected to the basic tests that are carried out for aggregates traditionally used in construction. The specific density of aggregate, bulk density, absorbability, crushing index, grain shape, texture type and aggregate flatness index were examined. In the next stage of research work, concrete mixtures were made in which crushed aggregate from crushed fluorescent lamps was used as a substitute for gravel aggregate. Mixtures containing 10%, 30%, 50% and 100% aggregate were made. A mixture containing only sand and gravel aggregate was made as a comparative mixture. Basic tests of both fresh concrete mix and hardened concrete were carried out for all concrete made. The consistency of the fresh concrete mix, the air content in the concrete mix, the density of hardened concrete, absorbability, water permeability under pressure and the basic compressive and tensile (flexular) strength tests were performed. The test results showed that the greater the addition of recycled glass aggregate, the less advantageous are the features of the concrete obtained with its participation. Microscopic analyses carried out in order to explain this phenomenon indicated an unfavorable influence of the grain shape of the aggregate thus obtained. Despite this fact, recycling of lighting waste in concrete composites is recommended as a pro-ecology measure; however, attention was paid to the benefits of using only 30% by mass of said waste in relation to the weight of the traditional aggregate used. Composite with such a quantity of waste retained the characteristics of cement concrete, which qualified its use for construction concrete.

This paper describes a method of designing and producing innovative mineral–asphalt mixtures, which utilize waste aggregate from the recycling of sanitary ceramics. The work presents the basic properties of the ceramic material, the investigation concerning the microstructure of the aggregate obtained from the grinding of waste, and a comparison with the images obtained for the aggregates usually employed in mineral–asphalt mixtures. The mixtures were designed for the application in the wearing course. Four series of mixtures were prepared. In the first and second, the ceramic aggregate constituted a partial substitute for dolomite, whereas in the third, we substituted granodiorite, and the fourth series contained only dolomite. The mixtures were examined for the content of soluble binder, the bulk density of samples, the presence of voids, the space filled with binder, and the susceptibility to water and frost corrosion. The obtained results were compared with the standard requirements. The microstructure as well as the contact zone in the considered mineral–asphalt mixtures are presented based on research conducted by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM).