The demand for sustainable resource recovery and repurposing of construction materials is growing as part of urban mining initiatives aimed at reducing waste, CO2 emissions and the extraction of raw materials. With many European buildings due for renovation to meet current energy standards, the recovery of insulating glass units (IGUs) presents a valuable opportunity to reclaim valuable glass panes at reduced environmental impact. However, especially the outer surfaces of the IGUs were exposed to environmental influences such as weathering and mechanical impacts which may have introduced surface defects or glass corrosion. These may have an influence on the processability and manufacturing processes.
This study evaluates the feasibility of producing laminated safety glass (LSG) from reclaimed IGU glass. First, the glass surfaces of the glass panes are analysed according to environmental exposure, surface defects quantity, visual quality, and surface roughness. Next, laminated glass is manufactured in various configurations of the glass surfaces, mainly using the reclaimed glass, and in some configurations, new glass, to determine how positioning and combination will affect the performance of LSG according to European product standards. Comparative tests are conducted with LSG made of entirely new glass.
