Development of a Composite Material Made of Sand and Molten Polyethylene Using a Scheffler Solar Concentrator

International audience The production of composite materials with a polyethylene matrix and sand reinforcement, through matrix melting, is energy-intensive. The melting temperature (approximately 200°C) of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is achieved through solar concentration. The plastic melting unit in SAABA, Burkina Faso, uses 8 m² Scheffler concentrators, each with a common cubic receiver. The reflective facets are made of glass mirrors, self-adhesive mirror film, and aluminum mirrors. The average available power of 1.80 kW, obtained with an average solar irradiance of 623 W/m², is sufficient for melting.In the production of composite materials, the matrix is composed solely of high-grade thermoplastics. The higher the matrix grade, the more fluid the material is during processing. The grade indicates the viscosity index of a material. The development of composite materials not only provides a solution for the recovery of plastic waste but also contributes to significantly reducing the ever-increasing volume of plastic waste, especially LDPE and HDPE, in developing countries.