Effects Of Solar Panel Waste Glass On The Properties Of Geopolymer

Recently, the renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) technology aregrowing rapidly. Although, solid waste produced from solar PV is minute than the waste associatedwith traditional energy sources, there is still waste that cannot be ignored that is created by thedecommissioning of the solar modules at the end of their lives. Conventional treatment of solarpanel waste glass was landfill process, however landflling is not a desirable option because it notonly causes huge fnancial burden to the foundries, but also makes them liable for futureenvironmental costs. Thus it is important to realize the reuse of solar panel waste glass.This study analyzed the character of waste glass and elucidated the mechanic characteristics ofgeopolymer that made by using solar panel waste glass replacing part of metakaolinite. Solid/liquidand SiO2/Na2O molar ratio of the material were also discussed. The samples were then subjectedto a series of tests to determine their quality, including mechanical strength and physical property.The crystal and bonding microstructure structure of all samples was identified by XRD、FTIR、SEM、TG-DTA. It is hoped that will establish the optimal operating conditions for preparinggeopolymer.The results show that geopolymer at S/N=1.75and S/L=0.8had the greatest mechnicalstrength. And the compressive and flexural strengths of geopolymer decreased with increasing theamount of waste glass. As the compressive strength of geopolymer increased, the bulk densityincreased and the porosity decreased. The TG/DTA results showed that the weight loss ofgeopolymer decreased with increasing solar panel waste glass after heating. The experimentalXRD results demonstrated geopolymer is mainly amorphous. FTIR spectra indicated that theprincipal peaks are Si-O-Al bond in geopolymer. The SEM observations showed that themicrostructures for higher strength samples were of a more homogeneous nature and themicrostructures for lower strength samples were highly inhomogeneous and incompactmicrostructure.