The paper focuses on the sustainabl

The paper focuses on the sustainable recycling of silicon-photovoltaic (Si-PV) modules by developing innovative composites entirely based on wastes of plastic materials (PVC, HDPE) and rubber, through low cost compression molding technique. In the first part of this study low amount of Si-PV modules powder (up to 3% mass weight) is embedded in polymer matrix and the interfacial and mechanical properties are investigated; two series of samples being obtained, the first Si-PV module without glass and the second one with all Si-PV modules (so including the glass cover of the PV module). The results have proved that the samples series with all Si-PV module powder exhibits higher mechanical performance (2.4 N/mm2 in tensile strength, Young’s modulus of 17 N/mm2) than Si-PV module without glass. In the second part of this study, up to 45 wt% of all Si-PV modules is incorporated in the polymer matrix. The output properties were measured in terms of tensile, compression and impact strength. The structural and conformational modification were evaluated by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the crystalline structure with X-ray diffraction (XRD), while surface morphology was studied by AFM and SEM techniques. The best mechanical properties were recorded for sample with 30% Si-PV with tensile strength of 2.02 N/mm2 and 45% Si-PV composite with compression strength of 39.35 N/mm2. Therefore, novel mechanical performance composites with recycled Si-PV modules could be designed for specific applications.