Recycling of waste glass as raw materials for the preparation of self-cleaning, light-weight and high-strength porous ceramics

Abstract With rapid economic development in recent years, the efficient utilization of waste glass has received increasing attention. The major challenge is to improve the economic and social benefits of waste glass recycling and to improve the self-driving force of waste glass recycling in related industries. In this paper, the researchers proposed a new recycling strategy for waste glass, using low-cost waste glass powder as raw material to prepare light-weight and high-strength porous ceramic materials with self-cleaning properties by combining the emulsion template self-assembly method with a surface hydrophobic coating treatment technology. The open porosity of the prepared ceramics can be controlled at 50–70% and the ceramics have ultra-high compressive strength (i.e., 50–141 MPa). The water contact angle on its surface is as high as 162.2°, which affords remarkable anti-dirt properties, stability, and superhydrophobic performance for milk, coffee, beer, soy sauce, and other staining liquids. Moreover, the water contact angle remains unchanged at a high temperature (500 °C) and in an acid-base environment. More importantly, even if the hydrophobic coating on the surface is destroyed, the superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning ability of the ceramic materials can be restored after remodification and the reuse is excellent. Ceramic materials offer the advantages of low price, a simple process, environmental protection, and high energy efficiency, and they show great potential and broad prospects for application. At the same time, the proposed method provides a very effective way to comprehensively utilize waste glass and has remarkable economic and social benefits.