Eco-Friendly Glass Claddings

A team of engineers and innovators over at RMIT University in Australia have developed a revolutionary glass cladding that provides a significant upgrade in eco-friendly credentials over existing materials due to the fact that it is made out of recycled glass.

This glass cladding comprises 83 percent ground glass which typically ends up in the landfill, with the rest of the material including fire-retardant materials and polymer binders. Due to this unique mix of materials, the cladding is robust and can meet typical building structure requirements, but is also water-resistant and economical.

Associate Professor Dilan Robert noted that the cladding's fire-resistant properties are crucial given the importance of claddings in mitigating the spread of fire. 'Building fires can happen anywhere at any time and cannot be predicted. Therefore, fire safety requirements should be embedded in the design of buildings,' Robert said.

Image Credit: RMIT University