Eco-friendly concrete containing recycled plastic as partial replacement for sand

Abstract

Solid waste is one of the many factors that negatively affect the environment. Problems stem from factors such as difficulty of waste recycling and limited reuse. Plastic is an important type of solid waste with a strong environmental impact. This study aims to investigate the effects of utilising poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET) as a partial substitute for sand in concrete. The effects of this material on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete were examined. A group of six concrete mixtures containing PET was prepared as a partial substitute for sand with substitution levels 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%. Concrete was cast to determine the behaviour of fresh and hardened concrete in terms of workability, unit weight, compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, pulse velocity and fire-resistant behaviour. The experimental results showed a reduction in unit weight, the sand replacement harmed the concrete mechanical properties at varying rates and proved that plastic waste can be disposed of by specific ratios and therefore, can be effectively applied in industrial usage.