Performance Assessment of a Composite Material Based on Kraft Paper and a Resin Formulated with Expanded Polystyrene Waste: A Case Study from Mexico

The present work proposes the recycling of expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste, in order to contribute to reduce the excessive accumulation of this material in sanitary landfills in Mexico. The recovery process of EPS is proposed using a biosolvent (Lemon limonene-LL) to prepare a polymeric solution (EPS-LL), and its subsequent evaluation as a coating on a lignocellulosic Kraft paper of 200 g/m(2) and a Gurley porosity of 15-30 seg/100 ml. The effect of different resin concentrations and resin coating layers on the compressive and tensile strength was tested, as well as the resistance of the treated paper to water absorption. Results indicated that the coating layers gradually increased the mechanical strength of the Kraft paper, both tensile and compressive, but only up to a certain grammage of resin applied. Regarding to water absorptiveness, the treated paper showed a significant reduction of water absorption, from 230 g/m(2) with one resin layer to 23 g/m(2) with three resin layers. The results demonstrate the potential of recycling EPS to obtain a composite material with good hydrophobic characteristics and mechanical strength. This study also intends to provide an added value of this recycled polymer, rather than continuing the current custom of discarding it in sanitary landfills.