Reusing of recycled polycrystalline silicon solar module tempered glass as replacement aggregate in cement based system

Photovoltaic panels are increasingly used in our country. The use of 20-25 years panels or damaged panels, which have expired, are left to be recycled to the environment, causing harm to nature and human as well as wasting of materials. The pollution of the glass wastes caused by these panels to the environment reaches important dimensions. The aim of this study is to investigate the recycling of polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, one of the most widely used panel models in the current life. In this context, the tempered glass of the photovoltaic panel was turned into small pieces and mixed with different sand ratios and used as a concrete mortar. The formed mortar samples were formed in 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% and cement was poured into special molds. Due to the time problem in my working environment, after seven days of curing time, the physical tests of the concrete were started. It has been observed that the densities of the new mixtures gradually increase due to the glass particles used. After seven days of curing time, pressure tests of all samples were made and compared with the control sample. In this comparison, it was found that the sample containing 15% tempered photovoltaic glass had a strength of 3.3% more. In the water absorption capacity measurements, it was found that 5% of the sample had the highest water absorption capacity and the least 20% sample had the water absorption capacity after 7200 minutes. Open porosity values were found to be lower than the control sample. It was found that the sample with 20% tempered glass content had least capillary porosity. One of the most important results of this study is that it is an environmentally friendly project that recommends the use of a tempered glass of solar panels as a cement mixture. In addition, as the usage rates of cement increases, capillary water absorption rates are decreasing and it is an important construction material in terms of insulation. In addition, the 15% mixture should have a higher resistance than the normal control sample and should be considered as important for construction.