Characterization of a Composite Material Composed by Rubber Tire and Expanded Polystyrene Wastes

This study aims to valorise industrial waste of Expanded Polystyrene Packaging waste (EPS) and used tire waste, in the production of a new composite material. The new composite material RTPC (Rubber Tire Polystyrene Composite) is a mixture of rubber particles from used tires, as reinforcement, and a matrix obtained by recycling EPS with gasoline. In this study, several matrix/reinforcement weight proportions (25%, 30% and 35%) and several reinforcement particle sizes (2-3, 3-4 and 4-5 mm) were considered. Physical, mechanical and thermal characterization were carried out in order to determine the density, the flexural modulus, the maximum stress and the thermal conductivity of the composite material. According to the obtained results, the RTPC material obtained is considered as a light material with a density between 500 and 600 kg/m3. The thermal characterization tests of the RTPC material also showed that the RTPC is an insulating material with thermal conductivity between 0.22 and 0.23 W/m.K. On the other hand, the three-point bending tests showed that the RTPC material has poor bending properties. The RTPC material can be used in the field of building construction as a good thermal insulator. The RTPC material can be used in other applications as a structural component in sandwich structures if its mechanical properties will improve.