Por segundo año consecutivo el IMIT recibió al Dr. Kazeem K. Adewole, de Nigeria, con una beca Postdoctoral en convenio TWAS – CONICET.
El Dr. Adewole desarrolla su trabajo de investigación en colaboración con el Laboratorio de Aerodinámica de la Facultad de Ingeniería – UNNE, dirigido por el Dr. Mario De Bortoli.
Como muestra del trabajo que viene desarrollando, el miércoles 18 de mayo brindó un seminario en el que comentó que su tema de estudio, en esta oportunidad, está orientado a lograr nuevas alternativas en la producción de materiales de construcción a partir de residuos de poliestireno.
Explicó las metodologías y mecanismos químicos para obtener desde los residuos de poliestireno una pasta compacta con importantes características de impermeabilización y resistencia a la corrosión para la producción de materiales de construcción prefabricados.
Abstract
Potential uses of Polystyrene Paste for Civil Engineering Applications
Chemical densification of expanded polystyrene waste (EPSW) which involves dissolving the EPSW in volatile organic solvent to form polystyrene paste and subsequent solvent evaporation to produce compact EPS which is recycled has been establish to be economical and environmentally friendly. Till date, the polystyrene paste produced during the chemical densification process has not been employed for civil engineering applications. This seminar is aimed at presenting an ongoing research into the potential uses of the polystyrene paste patented as Air-setting Polystyrene Paste Polymer Binder (APPPB) for civil engineering applications. The seminar will cover the potential uses of APPPB for the following: (1) As a binder for mineral aggregates and recycled aggregates such as agricultural and ceramic waste aggregates for the production of pre-cast construction materials. (2) As a waterproofing and corrosion resistant coating for building materials and structures. (3) As a ceramic waste aggregate alkali-silica reaction prevention coating. Details of the methodologies and the mechanical, chemical and thermal tests to be conducted on the APPPB-based construction materials will be presented will be presented.