The theoretical part of this master's thesis is divided into several parts. The first part summarizes the legislation on waste management in Slovenia and the EU, focusing on management of packaging waste. Next, general characteristics of polymer materials are presented, the division of polymer materials in terms of their origin, various waste recovery processes (thermoplast and thermoset), and their purpose. The last theoretical part deals with general definition of packaging waste and its breakdown by type, function and place of origin. The theoretical part ends with 2013 and 2014 annual reports' summaries of six registered packaging waste management companies in Slovenia.
The experimental part of the master's thesis focuses on three boards made of packaging waste, which are different by structure. Firstly, the process of board production and the detailed composition description of three groups of boards are described. Secondly, the data on test items for further research are presented in tables. Then there follows the description of the empirical part of the master's thesis. Testings of boards made of packaging waste were conducted in the Laboratory of Structural and Traffic Engineering at the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Pressure, bending and shear tests were performed on individual boards made of packaging waste, as well as pressure test on test item made of several boards made of packaging waste. This was followed by the reaction test of immersing the boards into water and into 1.0 molar solutions of sodium chloride and of potassium hydroxide. Finally, the reaction of boards made of packaging waste when tested for creep, thermal conductivity and water vapour resistance factor was researched.
Based on the analysis of the test results recommendations are made, suggesting where and for what purposes such boards made of packaging waste could be used, by preventing at the same time burden to the environment.
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