A recyclable ceramic material made from glass powder promises to reduce the carbon footprint of your bathroom, kitchen and roof.
The bathroom of the future could have tiles made from the waste from glass recycling. Photo: Adobe Stock Images.
A research team led by Dr Stefan Lie and Associate Professor Tim Schork, from the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, have invented a new construction material that takes glass waste that can be fired to produce a ceramic for tiles or wall cladding.
The promising innovation was awarded first place in the UTS Research Translation Competition.
“The traditional ceramics used in tiles and bricks are made from clay, earth or cement. They can’t be easily recycled and have a high carbon footprint,” says Dr Lie.
“We’ve found the glass powder left over from the recycling process, which normally goes to landfill, is the perfect material for creating a new kind of glass ceramic that is durable, waterproof and 100% recyclable.”
“It has the added benefit of becoming waterproof when fired at a much lower temperature than traditional ceramics, further saving on the energy embodied in its production.”
The UTS academics will take the $75,000 prize money to further develop their invention, patent protect it and find new commercial partners to take their ceramic to market.
Glass powder ... is the perfect material for creating a new kind of glass ceramic that is durable, waterproof and 100% recyclable.
- Dr Stefan Lie
Second prize in the Research Translation Competition went to an affordable rapid diagnostic test for bowel cancer developed by Associate Professor Charles Cranfield from the Faculty of Science.
The diagnostic identifies an enzyme phospholipase A2 that is correlated with the presence of bowel cancer and has a lower false positive rate than the traditional blood screening techniques used for bowel cancer.
“Every year, the Research Translation Competition uncovers hidden gems of innovation that are on the brink of commercial production and almost ready to change our lives," says Professor Kate McGrath, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
"Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition.”