Recyclable composite materials articles of manufacture and structures and method of using composite materials

Abstract

Composite mixture materials made of recycled plastic, glass and rubber, and optionally, sand, gravel, coal combustion by-product and metal, and containing no petroleum distillates (unless a fire retardant or recycled asphalt pavement is used) are disclosed. Methods of using the composite mixture materials include making expansion joints in pavement, filling manhole cover recesses, filling potholes in pavement, making new pavements, and making panels, walls, blocks, impact protection walls, and other such structures. Methods of making the composite mixture materials include heating the components of the material in an inert gas environmentally friendly manner. Compressive pressure is applied to composite mixture materials used in making expansion joints, manhole cover recess fillers, and in filling potholes to build in an elastic strain to overcome both a composite material shrinkage on cooling solidification of the material and the thermal contraction of pavements, and in making the composite material for any other of the uses disclosed.