Recycling and the circular economy are becoming increasingly important for reducing the pressure on natural resources, creating sustainable growth and halting the loss of biotic diversity. With this goal in mind, the European Union put in motion an action plan which includes the START CIRCLES project. In connection with the company M Sora, within the framework of this project, an innovative hybrid composite material, called “Comet”, was created. It was meant for use under windows to prevent thermal bridges. Waste materials from window production were used, namely wood and glass, which we bonded with tannin and polyurethane matrix. The research was set in such a way that it was possible to change one variable at a time and observe it's impact on the physical and mechanical properties of the composite. We altered the proportions of PU, tannin, glass and changed the density, wood particle size and the proportions of each size of wood particles. For each manufactured panel, we determined the properties that are the most important for the intended use – density, compressive strength (at 10 % deformation), thermal conductivity and flexural strength. In each step we determined the sample with the best properties and used that for further testing. Using such a procedure, we arrived at the final samples, which we then compared with materials that are already on the market and are being used in practice. Based on the properties we measured, we came to the conclusion that the manufactured material is suitable for use under windows.
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