Glass matrix composites from solid waste materials

Glass matrix composites have been obtained by mixing and sintering "negativ e cost" materials coming from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) an d from one aluminium foundry. The bottom ashes from two MSWIs were used to obtain the glass matrix and the solid wastes from an aluminium alloy indust ry were employed as a second phase. The bottom ashes were vitrified by heat ing at 1400 degreesC without any additive. The vitrification process reduce s the bottom ash initial volume by about 60%. The obtained glass has a Youn g modulus of 96 GPa and a Vickers hardness of 6 GPa. The composites were pr epared in air by a low temperature pressure-less viscous phase sintering pr ocess (740-830 degreesC) and were morphologically and mechanically characte rised. The composites showed a bending strength up to 50 MPa at room temper ature and could be proposed for applications in the field of tiles. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.