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Plastic Bricks
- This topic has 35 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by
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Hello everyone,
I was reading the topics and comments on the Forum and there are a lot of discussions about plastic bricks, lego houses and so on. Because I am supposed to begin some tests making bricks with PET powder, I decided to write a new topic for this subject. The bricks are not 100% plastic because it should be very resistant to be a house’s structure.
I would like to know if someone has already started this tests or projects building houses with these bricks. Let’s share ideas, “brick recipes” and molds inspirations.
If the molds work like lego toys, it would be much cheaper and sustainable. I really like this kind of bricks (https://www.facebook.com/JungleVT/videos/687153871457299/). They are wood bricks, but work pretty well.
Let’s recycle and make the difference!
Cheers 🙂
Luiza, there is a lot of people working on it. And I do not recommend it. If you need further information, send me an email to : [email protected]
Pode ser em português ahhahaah
@marcelozp Why don’t you recommend it? Can we know or is it a secret?
And please, continue in english so everyone can profit of your knowledge.
Because, the mechanical properties of polymers aren’t recommended for bricks. UV will be a huge problem too.
there is this “company” out there doing bricks http://www.byfusion.com/byblocks/
but as i tried to learn deeper on social media; it seems they never pick up phone or respond to e-mails
Peace
@marcelozp what about the company everblock? This kind of work really inspires me. But for sure, it’s different because they don’t build houses with it. The issue is to transform the plastic into something valuable and helpful for people…
@luizafazzio
I’ve done a research about everblock. It seems very nice and usefull.
First of all, they made thin wall pieces, what is recommended for polymers. Beside that to produce large pieces like that you will need a HUGE machine and a very expensive mold.
But the idea is excellent.
@marcelozp If i understand well, PET aka Waterbottle is not resistent for UV. If one would make a piece designed to stay outside, this needs to be treated for UV, but how?
@sonik
Adding UV blocker.
https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/uv-properties-of-plastics
this text explain very well
EDIT: PET will be OK for almost a year WITHOUT any additive. If you need a higher life time you need UV blocker.
@marcelozp So, if I add the UV blocker, it will be fine? You said that the mechanical properties of polymers aren’t recommended for bricks, but why?
i’m no expert and I don’t want to discourage you in any way but:
1. all such materials ‘breath’, entirely useless for homes. Under no circumstance (except with extreme corruption 🙂 ) plastic bricks would get any certificate for housing. You may use it for store rooms but even that will be very limited due to chemical property (fire,..)
2. it’s unclear until which degree it can stand pressure or other loads (side forces)
3. the fact it changes rapidly under certain temperatures, limits the idea of plastic bricks even more
sorry for being a ‘brick’ 🙂
g
When we talk about mechanical properties for bricks we talk about compressive and flexural modulus.
PET have 3.5 and 2.7 GPa Respectivelly
Concrete without any reinforcement have 10x this values.
Another problem: Polymers expands a lot. 10x more then any metal.
Polymer are usually used as reinforcement in concrete.
Hey. I don’t know if you are still interested, but my suggestion would be to watch this video https://youtu.be/xRxB6lyMNZ8 for inspiration on your idea. in which the young man is creating paving bricks from plastics and sand to create a mixture similar to concrete.
if you are looking further to create house building bricks, it might be of help.
you may watch other videos similar to the link I have left, to gain more ideas.
@mwenzipreciousplastic-com you are exposing your self to toxic gases with bricks made of plastic. sorry mates, it’s just a bad idea ! there is a reason why people want their walls made with non-chemistry products….
I’m also interested in using processed garbage for building. The Eco-Maquinas website has a reference to the Zonlix process for sanitizing and processing any-and-all garbage into lego building blocks.
https://ecomaquinas.com.br/index.php/eng/tijolos-ecologicos-com-residuos-do-lixo
Although, it seems that if the garbage could be pulverized sufficiently, it could be washed in a chlorine bath to sanitize it and a soap bath to degrease/wash it. Once dried again, it could be used as a supplementary aggregate in brick or possibly concrete.
Of course, studies would need to be conducted for human health concerns, strength, and longevity.
@Luizafazzio
Here are a couple of YouTube video links that may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfWBhNhZuzY. “Columbia Lego Home””This company in Columbia makes houses for people that are plastic. The second video makes roof tiling out of recycled plastic. “Eco Friendly Plastic and
Sand Tiled Houses” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7oUk10rKjE.
* If the links don’t open, type exactly what I have written in quotation marks. I hope this helps.
All these people saying plastic are no good for building don’t breathe, off gas and so on, I guess building houses from polystyrene and polyurethane foam would also be a non starter then? Seems people are building walls for themselves to stop themselves and others? There are a few companies mixing waste plastics with sand to make roof tiles also. I say stick with it, render-stucco will stop UV, tests will prove which way to go for structural integrity. Timber frame houses move with the seasons and humidity, some boats that survive the worst that can be thrown at them are held together by bits of string.
Olá Luiza, como vai você? Bem, estou lhe dizendo que sou do Chile da cidade de Arica, membro de uma ONG chamada Tortu Arica, gostaria de perguntar se você tem algum molde de tijolo e qualquer outro molde, estamos em um projeto de reciclagem de biberões, obrigado de antemão,.
Hey, I just joined this, but my company is working on making materials to build homes out of plastic. We would love to work together to make it happen. please feel free to email us at [email protected]! hoe to hear from you
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Hey @mdcn25! I’m just typing in english so others can understand! I don’t have any molds yet. I’m still planning the process. Fist I need to study more about the safety of it. Have you ever tried to make bricks? What projects are you planning to do on the NGO (if it’s possible to share)? Thanks 😉
Hi @luizafazzio, I am also thinking of this plastic brick concept but it seems it may require a little more research especially relating to flammability and safety… Although there are few youtube videos on various concepts for making plastic bricks, they don’t exactly talk about health and environmental long-term consequence and safety testings. Please share if you also obtain any helpful information. Cheers
it can be done relative easy with little to no danger. you need a good and large heating source, a second hand pizza oven(1.5 sqm, 200-1000 Euro), and some larger hydraulic systems driving a mold system. if you have a machinist around, it can take up to 3 weeks to build such system but let’s say you acquired the materials second hand, it’s about 3000-15000 Euro for all, only. no extras for safety measures or automation included yet.
@luizafazzio I dont know much about this subject just thought about a company in Mexico who is building houses with plastic in a week for a couple hunderd dollars. https://unreasonable.is/ecodomum-story/ Maybe this can be usefull for you. And yeah why not finish with an inspiring quote http://www.bradnash.com/blog/isad-here%E2%80%99s-to-the-crazy-ones-apple-steve-jobs-quote/
hi luiza and everyone… what about plastic bricks covered with mud and straw 🙂
@pei. There are several videos on YouTube, of people in India doing this. They are using empty water bottles as filler material in cob style houses and other structures. They are quite beautiful.
Please people!! Continue to expand this subject, I think construction is one of the most interesting, polemic and potencial stuff we can do with plastic waste.. thank you very much to all of you
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