SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
fig. 235: Bridge made of Thermoplastic Timber
fig. 236: Thermoplastic Timber Beam
The BFP is considering the use of sustainable materials for its major design components: structural grade Thermoplastic timber for the foundation’s substructure and vertical guidance system, along with recycled plastic water bottles in place of EPS buoyancy blocks. Thermoplastic timber is a composite material made almost entirely from recycled post-consumer and industrial plastics, also known as High Density Polymer Elastics (HDPE), resin and fiberglass (fig. 235, 236).260 Thermoplastic timber is a fiber-glass reinforced plastic material that is structural-grade and can be used for load-bearing construction. Plastic lumber first emerged on the United States marketplace in the early 1990s.261 Lisa Miles Jackson of Innovative Green Solutions and Thomas J. Nosker have described the origins and benefits of thermoplastic timber. According to the authors, “the patented technologies provide products that are extremely strong and durable, flexible in design, and virtually maintenance-free. Successful demonstrations have shown that Thermoplastic timber is a viable alternative to more traditional building materials including wood, steel, and concrete.�262 Jackson and Nosker further elaborate on the nature of thermoplastic timber: This innovative material is made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled #2 plastic and automotive scrap. It is completely inert and will not leach harmful chemicals into the soil or water. The use of this innovative technology keeps recycled plastic out of the waste stream, effectively doubling the quantity of waste this plan will divert from landfills. . . . The Rutgers experts have developed processing that uses a minimum amount of recycled fiberglass to achieve structural stiffness, strength, and creep resistance. The fiberglass blends thoroughly with the HDPE solution created a load-bearing product.263
fig. 237: Thermoplastic Dock
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