Influence of recycled waste high density polyethylene plastic aggregate on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of concrete
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Date
June, 2015
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Abstract
Utilisation of waste plastic materials as aggregates in concrete manufacturing is a partial
solution to the environmental and ecological challenges associated with the use of plastics. The
aim of this research is to reduce environmental pollution by using waste HDPE as a partial
replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete. This study examines some mechanical and
chemical effect of using waste High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as a partial replacement for
coarse aggregate in concrete at various plastic compositions (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight
of the coarse aggregate). The cleaned plastics were cut into flakes and then incorporated into the
concrete. Particle size distribution (PSD) test was conducted on the aggregates and specific
gravity test was also conducted for the plastic aggregates. The workability of the fresh concrete
both for the control and concrete with plastic aggregates were determined using the slump cone
test. Cube and prismatic beams of the samples were used to determine the compressive strength
and flexural strength test of hardened concrete. The effect of water on the hardened properties
was also determined for the various compositions. Finally, the effect of HNO3 and H2SO4 on the
compressive strength of the composite and the masses of the various compositions were also
determined. The workability of the fresh concrete was found to decrease with increasing plastic
content. From the results obtained it was revealed that the compressive strength for the normal
concrete is higher than that of plastic concrete and the compressive strength of the concrete also
decreases appreciably with increase in the plastic content. The 28
th
day flexural strength decrease
marginally with increase in plastic content in the concrete. It was revealed from the acidic test
that HNO3 virtually had no effect on the strength properties of the concrete whereas H2S04 had a
deleterious effect on the concrete sample after 28 days of immersion. The mass of water
absorbed by the concrete samples increased also with the increasing plastic content.
Description
A thesis submitted to the department of chemistry in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy degree (MPhil) in Polymer Science and Technology, 2015