US 2022/0009833 A1 · METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUBGRADE UTILITY VAULTS, LIDS AND TRENCHES USING RECYCLED POLYSTYRENE

Abstract

Methods, compositions, and apparatuses are provided herein that utilize polystyrene from recycled products to make a high strength composite concrete that can be used for subgrade utility vaults, utility trenches, etc. Polystyrene is a widely-used plastic that can be collected and then densified at particular parameters including temperature to transform the polystyrene to a usable form. Then, the densified polystyrene is combined with other resin materials and dry materials to form a high-strength concrete material. The amount of densified polystyrene that is combined with the other materials is critical to control shrinkage and expansion of the concrete material during manufacturing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing high-strength concrete with recycled polystyrene, comprising:

collecting polystyrene from recycled products;
densifying said polystyrene at an elevated temperature between approximately 140° C. to 160° C. to melt said polystyrene and to increase a density of said polystyrene;
mixing said densified polystyrene with a monomer material and at least one other resin material to form a resin component, wherein said densified polystyrene comprises between approximately 3% to 7% of a weight of said resin component;
and
mixing said resin component with a dry component to form a high-strength concrete.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for manufacturing subgrade utility vaults, lids and trenches using recycled polystyrene

Life of this patent

Method for manufacturing subgrade utility vaults, lids and trenches using recycled polystyrene

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20