Effect of expanded polystyrene waste in the creation of waterproofing paint

Abstract

Abstract The production, use, and poor management of polymers, and especially of expanded polystyrene, have resulted in various environmental challenges, such as large-scale waste generation, accumulation of toxic substances, and the pollution of natural resources, chiefly of water and soil. Consequently, nations around the world are investing considerable research effort into developing waste treatment and reduction solutions. Some areas have even enacted bans against the use of the material, however, in the Colombian case, it continues to be highly represented in the industry, and given the low cost of this packaging, little effort has been made to find a replacement. Expanded polystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer with low weight, low thermal conductivity, low cost, and low water absorption; factors which have made it a less attractive target for recycling. It has, however, excellent resistance to mechanical compression, which makes it viable for study in other applications such as those considered in the present study, offering advantages in terms of environmental protection without the need to completely eliminate the use of the material. The present study analyses the effects of integrating waste expanded polystyrene into the process of creating waterproofing paint. The research is divided into three major phases: the first focusing on the determination of the paint’s technical requirements using previous research and by means of initial testing; the second, on elimination tests to validate the properties of various samples before preparing the final paint mixture; and finally, a third phase of final tests required for a waterproof paint. The final formula is applied to common materials in the construction sector, such as wood, metal, glass, and concrete, to validate each of the required properties. Among the main results, technical viability was identified in the second sample, which demonstrated the best results at a ratio of 1: 2.5: 2.5 of waste expanded polystyrene, D-limonene and methyl acetate, respectively.