Production of mosaic tiles from plastic bottles. DIY paving slabs made from plastic bottles Tiles made from plastic bottles at home

A good alternative to traditional concrete paving stones is polymer sand tiles. Thanks to its high performance characteristics, the product easily copes with the tasks assigned to it. Finished elements are lightweight, high strength and wear resistance, a large selection of colors and shapes. In this regard, many entrepreneurs decide to build their business on the production of this paving surface. The article will describe polymer sand tiles and their production. We will also describe how to make polymer tiles at home.

Characteristics and advantages of polymer tiles

Polymer-sand paving products have the following composition:

the main volume (3/4) is occupied by quartz sand;
a quarter of the composition is high-pressure plastic;
pigments.

Thanks to this composition, polymer raw materials are resistant to external influences and at the same time plastic, which facilitates the molding of the future product. The advantages of this material include the following:

These sidewalk tiles will last up to thirty years.
A special production technology makes it possible to produce a product that is resistant to temperature changes and its extreme values (withstands up to minus 70°C). Plastic in the tiles increases the moisture resistance of the product. Thanks to sand components, the paving surface is resistant to aggressive liquids and oils. The tile can withstand significant loads.
During the manufacturing process, the product is given desired color and shape, which guarantees a wide range of products. There is also a choice of surface options (matte, structured, glossy).
Recycling of PVC waste ( plastic bottles, boxes, bags) solves the problem of their disposal.
Light weight, strength and low abrasion.
When exposed to sunlight, the product does not emit toxic fumes.
Maintainability and easy installation.
The coating does not accumulate dirt and is easy to clean.
Possibility of making at home.
Wide scope of use (as covering sidewalks and platforms in private households and in public places).

Material used

The production of polymer tiles requires the following raw materials:

used as a binder crushed polymers, they occupy a quarter of the volume (usually polystyrene, polypropylene and LDPE are used);
sand acts as the main filler (it accounts for 75% of the total volume), choose well-sifted sand of medium coarseness (it must be washed and heated to high temperatures;
inorganic pigments(iron oxide is used to obtain red, orange or brown tiles; chromium oxide is used to obtain a green coating; titanium dioxide produces white tiles).

In order to reduce the cost of purchasing raw materials, they practice making tiles from plastic bottles and other PVC products, for example, boxes or even film (but in the latter case, no more than half the volume of all polymers). Since the polymer is neutral chemical composition, nitric acid acts as a solvent. To obtain a homogeneous mixture, the plastic is melted at a temperature of 180°C and high blood pressure. The melting process is called extrusion.

Necessary equipment

Manufacturing paving slabs from plastic bottles is impossible without the use of special equipment:

plastic crushing machine;
scales;
melting apparatus;
Press forms;
press;
extruder;
When listing equipment for the production of polymer sand tiles, it is worth mentioning devices for cooling products;
for moving finished products you will need forklifts.

To produce plastic tiles at home, a molding press, a melting machine and an extruder are sufficient. If production is established in industrial scale, then you can’t do without a molding unit, a thermal screw mixing machine and a polymer crusher.

Important! When making tiles for your own needs, a drill with a mixing attachment is used to mix the components.

Also, to produce tiles from plastic bottles, you will need molds for pouring the mixture. They are bought on the Internet. There are molds made of plastic, rubber and fiberglass. Rubber molds are the most durable (withstand up to 500 cycles), but also expensive. Fiberglass products are suitable for large tiles, but require additional lubrication. Most often, ABS plastic molds are used.

Advice! Don't forget to buy molds for making curb stone.

Technology for making tiles at home

The production of polymer-sand tiles is carried out in several ways:

Method of hot pressing of a polymer mixture.
Vibration casting using plasticizers.

Vibrocasting allows you to produce products with low porosity. The hot pressing method produces tiles with excellent technical and performance characteristics. In factory conditions, vibration casting and hot pressing technology are used simultaneously for the production of polymer sand coating.

Tiles for your own needs are produced directly on the street or in well-ventilated areas.

The manufacturing sequence is as follows:

Plastic bottles are placed in an extruder to grind the raw materials. Old plastic boxes are sometimes used instead of bottles.
The heated mixture is then poured into the melting apparatus. Moistened sand and dyes are also added there. As a result of mixing and simultaneous heating, a mixture of viscous consistency is obtained.
This composition is poured into molds and pressed using special equipment.
The finished products are cooled.

Covering technology

Laying polymer sand tiles with your own hands is quite simple. Laying is carried out on one of two types of base:

crushed stone;
sandy.

When laying on a sandy base, work is carried out in the following sequence:

In the place where the tiles are supposed to be laid, remove the soil to a height of 150-200 mm.
The soil is leveled and a surface slope is created for the drainage of sedimentary water. The surface is compacted.
On the sides of the path or platform there are ditches for laying curb stones. The bottom of the ditches is compacted.
Then sand is poured into the prepared ditches for the curb to a height of 50 mm. The sand is moistened with water and compacted.
Strictly along the line of the curb, pegs are driven into the ground and the cord is pulled.
The bottom of the grooves is filled with cement mortar and curbs are installed.
Geotextile strips are laid on the compacted base of the paths with an overlap of up to 20 cm. The edges of the strips are connected with tape.
Next, sand is poured in several layers, followed by wetting with water. Also do not forget about compacting each layer.
Lay on the sand reinforcing mesh with a cell size of 5 by 5 cm. The mesh is backfilled with a dry mixture of sand and cement (keep a ratio of 3 to 1). The backfill is slightly moistened with water.
Now start laying the tiles. The elements are laid out on the sand at a distance of 3-5 millimeters from each other. Use a rubber hammer for leveling.
The seams between the paving elements are filled with sand.

If desired, you can compare it with the cost of laying paving slabs.

The channel “Hobbies, Homemade Crafts” showed an interesting homemade machine for the production of paving slabs. The technology is simple, the master made it from chipboard, the edges for the tiles are from waste from plastic windows, maybe just wooden ones. The main thing is that there is a small corner of 2-3 degrees so that the tile can be easily reached. Caps from plastic bottles were also used.

Springs from the valve heads are used. The upper part, where the tiles are, can be easily removed, there are 4 springs. The upper part is below, I made such a gadget - this is from a vibration belt for weight loss. Vibration still does not benefit the human body, so I disassembled this belt, took out a vibrator and attached it here. The control panel, we'll show you how it works.
The upper part is easily removed and is held in place by such parts, you just screw it on with self-tapping screws, they are inserted into the spring, they are also easy to install.
And it works under remote control. You can install an electric motor and put some kind of eccentric on the shaft so that there is vibration.

Powered by a computer power supply. Just in case helpful information, if you want to connect something from the power supply to the computer, disassemble it and connect the green wire to the black one, then the power supply will work and output 12 volts. 12 volts are yellow and black wires, red and black are 5 volts.

How did you make the tiles with corks?

I used cling film on the structure, lined everything with cling film, it sticks well. After production, you see, no moisture gets in, everything is clean.
And I decided to experiment. I watched a lot of videos on how paths are made using the lids of one and a half racks, it turns out beautifully, I decided to make such tiles. I covered it with cling film, put the lids upside down, laid out the ornament, made sure to put a mesh for the fittings and poured it - it turned out to be a beautiful tile.

The proportions of the solution, as the author answered the question: 1 part cement, 1 part sand, 0.5 parts fine crushed stone (screenings). Sand can be used instead of screenings.
Next, watch from 4 minutes on the video channel

Source: youtu.be/reZ-5COoVbM

Paths made from plastic bottles - a budget option for arranging a summer house

To ennoble garden territory, will require a lot of financial, time and labor costs. But skillful owners figured out how to turn unnecessary things into functional products.

A garden path made from water bottles or carbonated drinks is one such invention.

Thematic material:

Pros and cons of using thin plastic

This material has many advantages:

does not rot;
moisture resistant;
durable;
This cheap option coatings;
with a choice of different colors;
its installation technology is simple;
dense placement of elements will eliminate the growth of weeds.

When building a path, you can involve children in the work by assigning them simple tasks.

And if you lay out a path of plastic covers with the edges up, you will get an excellent foot massager.

The material has few disadvantages, but they are significant:

the coating is deformed due to sudden temperature changes;
required a large number of raw materials;
plastic is slippery after rain or in the cold;
cannot withstand heavy loads, so it is only suitable for decorating a pedestrian area.

But these disadvantages can be easily eliminated by coming up with an interesting combination of different materials.

Ways to lay paths with your own hands

Masters have learned how to create garden paths from plastic bottles, using both the whole container and its individual parts.

Required tools and materials

Before construction begins, it is necessary to prepare:

sand;
boards (for formwork);
crushed stone;
broken brick;
geotextiles;
shovel;
scissors (for cutting eggplants);
rule.

Bottles should be washed in advance, labels removed from them, and dried in the sun.

A path of whole bottles

The work order is as follows:

They dig a trench no more than 40 cm deep. The bottom is compacted.
On the sides, formwork is constructed from boards.
The bottom is covered with a thin layer of rubble or broken brick.
The top is covered with soil. Lay geotextiles.
Cover with a cushion of sand and crushed stone.
Bottles are filled with sand or soil. This is necessary so that the path does not deform when walking along it.
Laying is carried out horizontally or vertically so that the neck of the container is turned towards the edge of the path.
To compact the material evenly, oppression is placed on top.
The gaps between the bottles are filled with sand and dry cement.
They compact it again.
Fill with water so that the cement mortar hardens and the path becomes durable.

If you want a vibrant pedestrian area on summer cottage, each row of bottles can be painted in contrasting colors or multi-colored plastic can be used.

We lay out a garden path from the bottoms

The path laid from the bottom of the containers looks beautiful. In addition, it is also a good foot massager.

The bottoms are cut off to the same size and sorted by color. Preparatory work similar to the first option. But the craftsmen recommend doing the installation in sand moistened with water or in wet cement mortar. In the latter case, the path will be stronger. As soon as the mixture sets, the formwork is removed.

To maintain the integrity of the structure, curbs from glass bottles, bricks, stones.

Creating ornaments from plastic caps

If owners want to get an inexpensive but original coating, they can use bottle caps. Variety of colors in in capable hands the author allows you to post entire compositions. But you need to understand that even for the smallest pattern on 1 m2 of path you will need more than 1000 covers.

All construction processes the same as when laying whole containers. However, it is recommended to form a path of traffic jams on thin layer cement mortar.

If you want to make from caps interesting picture or a mosaic, it is better to assemble individual parts in advance by connecting small elements with an awl and fishing line.

Photo: baby massager made from lids

You can make an outdoor foot massager by turning the corks upside down. But such a path is not suitable for constant walking, but only for medicinal purposes.

Combined option

It consists of alternating the bottoms and lids of containers. This reduces material consumption, and the path looks like flower meadow. The upper part of the bottles is used instead of borders, laying them in place of the removed formwork. Glass containers, which are also installed with the bottom up, are also suitable for these purposes.

Decor for the garden - photos of ready-made examples

Armed with imagination, in addition to interesting garden paths can be made from plastic good fencing plot.

If you buy glue and fasten the lids together in the shape of a circle, you will get unusual table for tea drinking.

By choosing corks according to color and shape, you can create wall compositions. They will become interesting decoration fences, walls of outbuildings, gazebos, bathhouses, houses.

Photo: other crafts

This is how you get original things out of unnecessary things decorative elements, which are easy to do yourself. And if you invite children to help, landscaping the site will turn into an exciting creative process for the whole family.

Exclusive tiles, beautiful, spectacular and high quality - this is perfect option for arranging garden paths and creating other interesting elements landscape design. Thanks to its many advantages and benefits, making paving slabs at home can become not only a useful hobby for you, but also profitable.

Advantages of home-made paving slabs

The scope of application of high-quality paving slabs is currently very wide. Thanks to its attractive appearance, stylish design, environmental friendliness, durability and much more positive characteristics, it can be used in the process of arrangement:

places for recreation;
children's playgrounds;
garden paths in country and personal plots;
city sidewalks, etc.

Compared to traditional asphalt pavement, DIY paving slabs have numerous advantages.

Any area decorated with such tiles looks neat, attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

Of course, the production of paving slabs as a business has its undeniable advantages. This process is very interesting and does not require too large financial investments. This activity is not particularly difficult, so even those people who are not well acquainted with the basics of construction can quickly master the technology and process of making paving slabs.

Subject to strict adherence to technology, it is possible to achieve a guarantee of product quality and produce a material that can ideally withstand more than two hundred cycles of freezing and thawing, and when the temperature rises, absolutely not release any harmful components. Having familiarized yourself with the process of making paving slabs in the video, you will be able to independently produce truly high-quality and reliable material.

Basic production technologies

The very first thing you need to find out is what methods exist for making paving slabs at home. To date, two such methods are known:

vibration pressing;
vibration casting.

In the first case, rigid concrete mixtures with a very low liquid content are pressed. But the technology for manufacturing paving slabs using the vibration casting method, on the contrary, implies the presence of a more liquid texture with the addition of special plasticizers.

Despite a certain difference in production process, both the first and second methods make it possible to obtain very high-quality and durable material, which is characterized by a low level of porosity and an impeccable appearance of the front surface.

If you want to make tiles at home, it is recommended to add plasticizers to the concrete mixture and use the vibration casting method. In this case, you will definitely need something like a vibrating table for making paving slabs. The main essence of the process is that special electromechanical devices cause vibration, under the influence of which the concrete mixture, located in special forms, is properly compacted.

Made from rubber and plastic bottles

Very interesting options are the production of tiles from crumb rubber and plastic bottles. Both of these processes do not require significant financial costs.

The production of rubber paving slabs is carried out using a special volcanic press. The result may be various types tiles – hard, soft, multi-layer, single-layer.

Paving slabs made from plastic bottles, the manufacturing technology of which involves the use of an extruder, a heating-melting apparatus and a molding press, are an environmentally friendly product, frost-resistant, durable, and have excellent adhesion and anti-slip properties. During the manufacturing process, the polymer mixture is mixed with clean sand and dyes.

What is needed for production

To obtain high-quality, durable and reliable material, it is necessary to have special equipment, use good raw materials in the correct proportions, and also properly ensure the drying process under natural conditions.

So, from the equipment you will need:

high-quality forced-action concrete mixer;
vibration table - purchased or made independently;
a variety of tile shapes, differing in styles and sizes;
ten-liter bucket;
picking shovel;
working rubber gloves.

Correctly selected components also play an important role here. To produce paving slabs you will need:

high-quality crushed stone of hard non-metallic rocks of fraction from three to ten millimeters;
cement 500 or 400 grade, which does not contain any additives;
high quality purified sand;
plasticizing and modifying additives;
pure water;
dyes in powder form;
special lubricant for molds.

Stages of the production process

The technology for making paving slabs with your own hands involves doing everything important stages in a certain sequence:

first of all, the tile molds are prepared properly;
Next, a high-quality concrete mixture is prepared;
then the tiles are formed on a special vibrating table;
after this, the material is kept in molds for two or three days;
The final stage is the process of stripping the finished tiles.

You can use forms made of different materials - polyurethane, silicone, galvanized metal or fiberglass. Before filling concrete mixture they must be lubricated with a special compound. You can prepare it yourself - to do this you need to add 50 g to one and a half liters of water. machine oil and stir for a long time until the mass becomes homogeneous. Can also be used as a lubricant vegetable oil or traditional laundry soap thoroughly crushed and dissolved in water.

A well-kept courtyard is the face of the owners. Modern market provides many materials that will help create comfort on suburban area. Plastic paving slabs are increasingly being used to design paths and parking areas. She has high quality and diverse color palette, which can be a decoration for any yard.

Paving plastic slabs

Paving material or paving slabs are a building element that is used to create hard surfaces for pedestrians or vehicles. It is made from three main components:

Plastic paving slabs

sand is the basis and occupies 75% of the total composition of the tile. Particularly strict requirements are imposed on it; it must be well washed, calcined, and the particles must be of medium size;
the crushed polymer is a binder and occupies 24% of the total volume (polystyrene, polypropylene or LDPE are used);
various inorganic dyes 1%.

Typically, tiles are made using hot pressing. This method allows you to create a durable construction material. It has high physical and chemical properties, which reduces porosity.

Plastic tiles are manufactured in many factories and have already won the trust of consumers. The production process is quite simple. To begin with, all components are thoroughly mixed so that the pigment spreads throughout the mixture and properly colors the entire material. After which the resulting solution is placed in an extruder, where additional impurities are added and everything is thoroughly mixed again. The resulting mass is sent under the press, where the tiles and patterns are formed. At this stage of production plastic material ends.

Manufacturers make products in the form of lattice tiles and just ordinary paving stones. Lattice tiles have a square shape, measuring 50x50 or 30x30. Its thickness is no more than 2 cm, and its weight is about 1.5 kg. All elements have through cuts; there are grooves on the sides of the tiles that hold the structure together into a single whole. Paving-shaped tiles are smaller in size, but weigh more. Available in a wide range of colors.

Advantages and disadvantages of building materials

Paving slabs made of plastic are superior to other types of tiles that are presented on the construction market. To the advantages plastic design tracks can be classified as:

Before purchasing a plastic building material, you need to familiarize yourself with its disadvantages and weigh the pros and cons.

The negative aspects of the material include:

Of course, plastic tiles are made of durable material, but they are not as durable as stone;
plastic wears out faster than stone paving stones;
expands slightly under influence strong temperatures, so when installing it is necessary to leave a small gap of 3–5 mm.

Polymer-sand paving slabs

Plastic tile laying technology

The material is easy to lay, so it can be done with my own hands. The tiles can be mounted on different bases: sand or crushed stone. If you lay tiles on sand or a cement-sand mixture, you need to adhere to certain simple rules.

Laying plastic tiles

The place where the tiles will be laid must be cleaned and about 20 cm of soil removed. After which the surface must be leveled and compacted efficiently.
Along the edge of the surface you need to make small grooves where the curb will be installed. Sand (5 cm) is poured into the groove and watered, after which it is compacted. The curb line is marked and pegs are driven in along the edges and then a rope is stretched. A small amount of cement mortar is poured into the bottom of the groove, and curb stones are installed.
A geotextile layer is applied to the compacted soil surface; its edges must be secured with construction tape. A layer of sand is poured over the material, watered and compacted.
You can begin laying tiles on the compacted sandy surface. Installation is carried out using a rubber hammer at a distance of up to 5 mm from each other.
After installation is completed, sand is poured onto the surface of the site, which effectively fills the seams. At the end of the work, the tiles are washed with water to remove any remaining cement-sand mixture.

As already mentioned, plastic tiles can also be mounted on crushed stone. The sequence of work is slightly different from the previous one, and therefore requires consideration of some nuances. Adhering to simple installation rules, sidewalk path will last a long time.

As in the first case, you must immediately remove upper layer soil, level the area and thoroughly compact the surface. Then you need to make recesses for the curb and install it, following the sequence described above.
The compacted area must be covered with crushed stone (20–40 mm) and the resulting layer thoroughly compacted. After which the surface must be filled with concrete (layer about 100 mm). It is important to do the pouring at a slight slope to allow water to drain.
The concrete surface needs to be covered sand-cement mixture(2–3 cm) and install the tile on it using a rubber hammer. Paving slabs can also be laid with tile adhesive.
You need to pour sand onto the finished area and scrub the seams with a stiff brush. After which the finished paved area must be washed with water to wash away the remaining cement-sand mixture.

Use new beautiful path or the site is possible only after 2 days. During this time, the solution will harden qualitatively, and the tile will be motionless.

Video: Polymer sand paving slabs

Plastic bottles are used as containers for huge amount drinks, after consumption of which they remain in the form of garbage. Europe has long been engaged in industrial plastic processing, but in Russia this is not yet such a popular business. But the mechanism of making tiles from plastic bottles in mini-factories and even in...

It is quite easy to make homemade tiles from a plastic bottle for personal use. This does not require the purchase of expensive equipment. Raw materials are cheap and available in abundance.

Characteristics of plastic tiles

Plastic tiles are durable and reliable, in no way inferior to their concrete counterparts, and in some cases even superior to them.

It prevents the formation of ice and has anti-slip properties, which is very important in the Russian winter for comfortable walking.

This is ensured by the abrasiveness of the material due to the presence of sand in it. Smooth and smooth surface Such tiles have good adhesion to the shoe sole material.

The advantages of plastic paving slabs are:

increased strength and wear resistance;
insensitivity to moisture;
when liquid gets on the coating, it seeps into the cracks between the elements without eroding the path;
the ability to maintain its properties at extremely low temperatures;
relatively low weight;
resistance to chemical influences;
if it is necessary to replace individual tiles or parts of the tile covering, expensive and labor-intensive operations are not required;
long service life;
admissibility of production relief surface and dyeing in different colors;
easy to machine if you need to saw or make holes;
ease of installation work.

Due to the ease of laying tiles, it can be done without professional help.

If the temperature rises significantly, the tiles increase slightly in volume, so when laying, be sure to maintain a gap of 3–4 mm.

It is worth noting that paving slabs made from plastic bottles also have remarkable aesthetic properties. It is suitable for implementing bold and varied design solutions. The color of the material does not fade when exposed to sun rays, the tile is not deformed and does not wear off. Appearance The material is unique, finishing with such products will look elegant and original.

Components of the material

To make paving slabs not only from plastic bottles, but also from other polymers, you will also need sand and coloring matter. The raw materials are ordinary bottles, which do not even need to be cleaned of labels and food residues. All excess ingredients burn without a trace. No sorting is needed either.

In addition, soft polymers impart plasticity to the finished tile. Without them, she will be more fragile. You just need to comply with the following requirement:

soft plastic – 40%;
solid polymers – 60%.

This is necessary in order to ensure optimal rigidity of the plastic tiles. The use of this technology almost completely eliminates polymer waste. The addition of polycarbonate or fluoroplastic, as well as rubber, is not allowed. After all, these ingredients are not capable of imparting improved properties to products, but the structure of the material is disrupted, losing its homogeneity.

The sand is cleaned of impurities (their content, including clay, is no more than 1/5). The drier the sand, the less time is spent on making one tile. Quality finished product will depend on the sand and plastic being mixed evenly. Mixture proportions:

sand – 90%;
polymers – 9%;
dye – 1% (if added).

It is preferable to add inorganic dyes. Without them, the products will turn out to be a dirty gray color.

Business idea in the garage

Production technology

Equipment for the production of polymer tiles includes the following equipment:

crusher for grinding plastic raw materials;
extrusion apparatus for melting and mixing ingredients and squeezing out the finished mixture;
molding press.

All technological process relatively safe, but is carried out in rooms with good ventilation using respirators and protective gloves.

The manufacturing technology is quite simple and consists of the following steps:

the polymer material is crushed into small pieces;
When the ingredients enter the extrusion machine, the molten viscous plastic envelops the grains of sand, everything is mixed repeatedly, and a dough-like mass is obtained. At this stage, dye is added;
the extruder extrudes the mixture, the temperature of which is 200 degrees, it is cut into the right quantity and fits into forms.
Under the molding press, the product is given its final form and simultaneously cooled.

This applies to production on an industrial scale. Handicraft production of tiles in small quantities will require only a melting machine and a molding press. In this case, the polymers are first melted without preliminary crushing, then this mass is mixed with sand and dye.

This stage is very important, as good mixing is required. Now all that remains is to put the mixture into molds under a press and cool. If you don’t have a press, you should just wait for the tiles to cool in the molds. It usually takes 1-2 days to dry completely depending on conditions and temperature.

The output is products of the same shape as cement tiles. At the request of the manufacturer, they are given different dimensions, color shades and textures.

The production of tiles from plastic bottles cannot be done without molds for pouring the molten mass. The material from which the molds must be made is plastic, fiberglass or rubber.

Rubber molds are not widely used because they are relatively expensive, heavy and quickly become unusable. Fiberglass is well suited for the production of large-sized products.

The peculiarities of this material are such that a special lubricant must be applied to the mold each time it is used. Most common plastic molds made of heat-resistant material.

Sometimes layer-by-layer technologies are used to save dye. Then a colored layer is formed first, then a layer without dye, and then a colored layer on top again. The thickness of one layer is 2 cm.

There are always defects in the manufacturing process of a material, various trimmings. They should be re-crushed in the machine and used as raw material for new products. But when making paving slabs from plastic bottles, the environment does not suffer much trouble.

Production of modern and beautiful tiles from plastic bottles will serve environmental safety purposes. After all, difficult to decompose waste is being removed. Possessing high performance characteristics, this product will always find its consumer. Modern production paving slabs made from plastic bottles will soon be replaced by a concrete counterpart.