Development of a Hydrophobic Polymer Coating in Polyurethane Organic–Mineral Base Containing Waste from Fibreglass Production

Abstract

In this study, the suitability of waste from glass fibre production as a secondary filler for a polymeric durable hydrophobic coating, based on an innovative polyurethane organic–mineral base, was experimentally verified. The main aim of this work was to develop a basic formulation for a polymeric hydrophobic coating designed primarily for usage in aggressive environments. For this purpose, a total of four formulations were tested with different weight percentages of waste glass fibre, i.e., from 30 to 60%. The basic properties in the fresh state, such as the coating workability and kinematic and dynamic viscosity, were verified, and an application test was performed. The formulations were also verified after the polymerisation of the coating. Adhesion on a concrete substrate and the tensile properties and hardness of the coating were tested. Chemical resistance to liquid aggressive media and the microstructure of the coating after exposure to SO2 were also tested, as these are critical properties. All the formulations showed better workability than the reference coating without a filler, and the formulation with the highest filling (60%) appeared to be optimal. The maximum adhesion on the concrete substrate (11.9 MPa) and tensile strength (21.6 MPa) were recorded for the formulation with 60% waste fibreglass. It can be concluded that with an increase in the waste glass content, there was a significant improvement in the properties of the coatings. Additionally, the waste fibreglass did not have a significant negative impact on chemical resistance.