Description
The CRT Tile is a very timely project as it brings ecological profits by reducing the landfill waste disposal at the peak moment of transition from CRT to LED and plasma technology. The primary project objective is to develop the assumptions for technology of a new product, with value in use, produced from waste CRT glass. The objective is to select the parameters for manufacturing waste glass plates in a way to obtain a product with physicochemical parameters resembling those of ceramic plates. The documentation including guidelines for starting the production of glass plates on the basis of waste kinescope glass will be developed. An advertising batch of glass plates will be manufactured. The project will benefit society at all levels by decreasing humans impact on environment and creating potential for new businesses. Both partners envision that relations will be strengthened, enlarged and well branded within the European Community. The project's consortium has been formed to be able to handle all tasks involved in the project and to provide expertise needed for the successful project execution.
Summary of project results
The Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials got interested in stocks of waste CRT glass lying idle for a long time in order to make use of the glass as a raw material for manufacturing a new type of tile. The aim of the project was to elaborate technological parameters for launching production of glass tiles based mainly on waste raw material. A team composed of employees of Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials (IC&BM) and West Norway Research Institute (WNRI) established the division of the tasks. Technological studies towards maximum utilization of CRT screen glass (there are customers for cone glass in the road construction sector) were conducted by the IC&BM team, while the WNRI team conducted the LCA analysis (Product Life Cycle Analysis). The IC&BM team established cooperation with ceramic tiles plants in order to carry out trials at semi-technical scale. The material for tests was glass acquired from the Polish market. A batch of tiles was manufactured, following which the tiles were subjected to examinations according to EN 14411:2009 Ceramic tiles. Definitions, classification, properties, compliance assessment and marking. There is no standard for glass tiles. The use of that standard for the developed product was enforced by the need to establish the application values of CRT glass tiles. The physicochemical parameters of the CRT tile indicate the possibility of its utilization as both a wall cladding tile and a façade cladding tile. The possibility of obtaining a tile in various colours raises its aesthetic value. The research works ended with elaborating technological documentation for the process of manufacturing CRT glass tiles. The documentation will serve as a basis for launching implementation works at a ceramic tile plant. The advantages for the cooperating teams included in case of the IC&BM team acquiring knowledge of LCA analysis through cooperation on that subject, and for the WNRI team acquiring basic knowledge in the area of ceramic tile manufacturing technology. The assumed objective of the project has been reached. One of the Polish producers of ceramic tiles with considerable standing in the European market is interested in implementing the developed technology. The solution was awarded a Silver Medal at the: INTERNATIONAL WARSAW INVENTION SHOW IWIS 2015 and 19TH MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES SALON ARCHIMEDES 2016.
Summary of bilateral results
The essential effect of the cooperation is the conducted LCA analysis. The Project Promoter elaborated the conditions for utilization of waste CRT glass and delivered data on the expected machinery. The Project Partner conducted the LCA analysis based on the data in the subject literature and information from the Project Promoter. The Promoter’s team extended their knowledge with the methodology of preparing this type of analysis, while the Project Partner acquainted itself in detail with the technology of manufacturing ceramic tiles and requirements of the European standard EN 14411:2009 Ceramic tiles. Definitions, classification, properties, compliance assessment and marking. During the project the partner ascertained it was incapable of conducting quality tests of tiles, the partner assigned its funds to the Project Promoter. Both teams worked intensely on spreading the information on the implementation and results of the project, exchanging advertising materials and information on seminars and conferences. The three-year cooperation allowed for learning research capabilities of both the parties. This has become a basis for taking steps towards joint elaboration of another project.