ITC, the Institute of Ceramic Technology and AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, cooperated on the RECERCO project. This initiative wanted to find out whether fired sherds, a form of waste generated when manufacturing ceramic tiles, can be used as a secondary raw material.

Basically, yes, they can. The tiles are mostly composed of red clay: they were treated and then used to manufacture new ceramic tiles and as a reinforcement agent for polymeric matrices to obtain composites for the construction industry.

The research project has confirmed that both applications are feasible and this waste can indeed be used as a secondary raw material. It can replace much of the clay content in the ceramic tile manufacturing process.

AIMPLAS developed thermoset and thermoplastic formulae with the ceramic waste to manufacture PVC-based shutter profiles and a planter and a tank with thermoset composites, which can be used for outdoor applications.

The companies Neos Additives, Miraplas, and Saxun were also involved in the project.