An Experimental Study On Waste Plastic Aggregate Based Concrete - An Initiative Towards Cleaner Environment

Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 24 (3): 552-556, 2016
ISSN 1990-9233
© IDOSI Publications, 2016
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2016.24.03.23101
An Experimental Study on Waste Plastic Aggregate Based

Concrete - An Initiative Towards Cleaner Environment
1
T. Senthil Vadivel, 2M. Doddurani and 3K.S. Shobana
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. N.G.P. Institute of Technology,
Coimbatore – 641 048, Tamilnadu, India
2
Assistant Engineer, PWD/WRO, Cauvery Basin, Salem – 636 007, Tamilnadu, India
3
Department of Civil Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai,
Erode – 638 052, Tamilnadu, India
Abstract: A substantial growth in the consumption of plastic is observed all over the world in recent years that
has led to dumping of huge quantities of plastic related wastes in the environment. Recycling of plastic waste
to produce construction material like concrete appears as one of the best solutions for the disposal of plastic
waste. This paper involves a partial replacement of waste plastic as fine aggregates from 5% to 25% with 5%
increment. The main objective of this study is to reduce the wastage of plastic and to improve the eco-friendly
environment. Many investigations were taken for plastic so far, that has led to current research for using
pulverized plastic which passes through 2.36 mm sieve and retained in 1.18 mm sieve in concreting material.
The investigation was done and the mechanical properties of concrete were discussed in the present study.
The experiment was done with M30 grade concrete for a curing of 7 days, 14 days and 28 days from which its
compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength were taken and compared with the conventional
concrete. The compressive strength has increased for 5%, 10 %, 15 % and gradual decrement is obtained for
20% and 25% of partial replacement. The tensile strength and flexural strength has been increased for all
percentage of waste plastic replacements.
Key words: Recycling Pulverized Plastic Compressive Strength Tensile Strength and Flexural Strength
INTRODUCTION by their aesthetic appearances and smooth surface. Hence

an attempt on the utilization of waste plastics as fine
In India approximately 40 million tones of plastic aggregate is done and its mechanical behaviour is
products are consumed every year. Nearly 15000 tones investigated.
have been used per day out of which 95% has been Resis et al. [1] made a study on partial replacement
wasted. Since waste plastic is a non decomposable of aggregates mortar with non-biodegradable plastics.
material and dumping of waste plastic disturbs the They identified that non – biodegradable plastic
environment and ecology. Hence lot of innovations in aggregate was made up of polyethylene terephalate
recycling of waste plastics has been practiced in many (PET) from beverage containers are used as a partial
countries in order to avoid environment pollution. Due to replacement of aggregates mortar from about 5 to 20 %
the scarcity of river sand this current study motivated to with an increment of 5%. A reduction of specific
substantiate river sand by using waste plastic as fine weight from 1810 Kg /m3 to 1450 Kg / m 3 and improvement
aggregate. of flexural behavior was identified from the study.
The application of powdered plastic in building Yun Wang Choi et al. [2] investigated characteristics of
material helps the search for alternative materials in a way mortar and concrete containing fine aggregate from
to reduce costs and encourage the use of fine aggregates recycled waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles. It
that are environmentally less aggressive. The plastics are also said that the development of lightweight
characterized by high strength, low weight and as well as aggregate concrete using fine aggregate from recycled
Corresponding Author: T. Senthil Vadivel, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. N.G.P. Institute of Technology,
Coimbatore - 641 048, Tamilnadu, India.
552
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 24 (3): 552-556, 2016
waste PET bottles. It also says that the WPLA is used in Plastic Aggregate: Finely grounded plastic waste ranges
single grade (5-15mm) so that the density of WLPA is in size from very fine powder to sand-sized particles
decreased by 47% compared with river sand. The were used as fine aggregate which is shown in Fig. 1.
addition of WLPA by 25%, 50% & 75% decreases the Waste plastic materials are collected and are grinded
compressive strength by 6%, 16%, & 30% respectively. for the use. The grading of plastic aggregates for IS: 383
And it is also noted that the flow of WLPA mortar is – 1970 were compared with conventional fine and coarse
increased proportionally to the proportion of WLPA in aggregates. The plastic aggregates behaved quite similar
the mix and the slump of WLPA concrete increased to the normal aggregate which are shown in Fig. 2.
proportionally. Fineness modulus of plastic is 2.99.
Saikia and Brito [3], made a research by using plastic
waste as fine aggregate in cement mortar and concrete Mix Design: The mix design for M30 grade concrete is
preparation. In this paper the fine aggregate are replaced calculated as per IS 456:2000, IS10262:1982 Table 1.
by various types of plastic by different shapes, when
flaky shapes plastic is used, the slump of concrete Specimen Casting: Cube mould of 150 x 150 x 150 mm size,
decreases while the spherical shaped plastic increases it. cylindrical mould of 150 x 300 mm size and prism mould of
The concrete containing plastic is more ductile than 100 x 100 x 500 mm size were cast. The moulds were placed
conventional concrete and it can arrest the cracks on an even surface and the materials were mixed in mixer
generated during mechanical failure of concrete. Concrete machine. First coarse aggregate and fine aggregate were
shrinkage is considerably increased due to the added and mixed thoroughly in a dry condition then
incorporation of various types of plastic aggregates cement and water added to get fresh concrete mix
(Farreiri et al.) [4]. Senthil Vadivel and Doddurani [5] simultaneously powdered plastics were mixed properly.
utilized PET bottle strips as fiber in concrete with various In this project, 5% to 25% of waste plastic has been
percentages and concluded that the addition of fibers up replaced in the increment of 5% with fine aggregate by
to 3% were considerably increase the mechanical weigh batching. Compaction was done for all the
properties of concrete. specimens using vibrating table. The mould is striped
after 24 hours. The test specimens were cured for 7 days,
Material Investigation: An elaborative material study was 14 days & 28 days in a curing tank.
carried out and is discussed below.
Experimental Investigation: The casted specimen were
Cement: Cement is a basic requirement for any demoulded for determining compressive strength, split
construction work and also provides a binding medium for tensile strength and flexural strength after a curing period
the discrete ingredients. In the present study Ordinary of 7 days, 14 days and 28 days. The results were
Portland Cement of grade 53, confirming to IS: 12269–1987 compared with the strength of conventional concrete.
was used for preparing the concrete. The specific gravity The test set up and failure specimen for compressive
of cement was 3.14. strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength test
are shown in Fig. 3, 4 and 5.
Fine Aggregate: Natural River sand passing through
4.75mm IS sieve is used for making concrete. As per IS: Compressive Strength Test: Compression test is carried
383–1970 natural river sand was categorized under out to find out the compressive strengths of the
grading zone II. The specific gravity and fineness conventional and WPAC cube specimens by using
modulus of sand is found to be 2.63 and 2.03. compression testing machine. The compression test
results of the specimen at 7 days, 14 days, & 28 days are
Coarse Aggregate: Coarse aggregate was passed shown in Fig. 6.
through 20 mm sieve and retained on 12 mm sieve
confirming IS: 383–1970 was used for concreting. The Split Tensile Test: The split tensile test has been carried
specific gravity and fineness modulus of coarse aggregate out and comparative results of conventional and WPAC
is found to be 2.61 and 7.42. are shown in Fig. 7.
Water: Clean portable water free from suspended Flexural Strength Test: The flexural strength test has
particles, chemical substances, biological elements etc., is been carried out and comparative results of conventional
used both for mixing of concrete and curing. and PFRC are shown in Fig. 8.
553
Table 1: Quantity of Materials

Cement Fine Aggregate Coarse Aggregate Water
490 kg 793 kg 1151 kg 186 kg
Fig. 4(a): Split Tensile Strength Test
Fig. 1: Powdered Waste Plastic
Fig. 4(b): Split Tensile Strength Specimen after Testing
Fig. 2: Grading Aggregate
Fig. 5(a): Flexural Strength Test
Fig. 3(a): Compressive Strength Test
Fig. 3(b): Compressive Strength Specimen after Testing Fig. 5(b): Flexural Strength Specimen after Testing
554
produces 19% higher compressive strength. The

increment may be the evident of powderised waste plastic
which was filled in the porous of concrete specimen,
further decrement after 15% is the evidence of optimal
usage of plastic in concrete.
According to Fig. 7, split tensile strength of WPAC
performed exceptionally well compared to conventional
concrete in all the percentages. The 25% replacement of
waste plastic provides 24.87% higher split tensile strength
than the conventional concrete.
Fig. 8 exhibits the flexural strength of WPAC which
performed exceptionally well compared to conventional
concrete in all the percentages. The 25% replacement of
Fig. 6: Comparison of Compressive Strength waste plastic provides 20% higher flexural strength than
the conventional concrete.
CONCLUSION
The above said discussions made the authors to

derive the following conclusion:
The compressive strength of waste plastic aggregate

concrete is optimal up to 15% after there was a slight
reduction in strength was observed.
All the replacement up to 25% of plastic aggregate
performed better than conventional concrete in split
tensile and flexural strength of concrete.
Fig. 7: Comparison of Split Tensile Strength The mechanical properties of waste plastic aggregate
concrete increases marginally up to 15% replacement
of waste plastic.
Hence 15% replacement of powdered waste plastic is
adequate and optimal solution. The authors
suggested that the replacement of powdered plastic
waste as fine aggregate is safer up to 15%.
The utilization of powderised plastic waste will
greatly reduce the environmental pollution which
leads to the cleaner environment.
REFERENCES
1. Reis, J.M.L., R. Chianelli-Junior, J.M.L. Cardoso and

Fig. 8: Comparison of Flexural Strength F.J.V. Marinho, 2011. Effect of recycle PET in the
fracture mechanic of polymer mortar, Construction
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS and Building Materials, 25(6): 2799-2804.
2. Choi Yun Wang, Dae Joong Moon, Yong Jic Kim and
The compressive strength of WPAC gradually Mohamed Lichemi, 2009. Characteristic of mortar and
increases up to 15% of waste plastic replacement, after it concrete containing fine aggregate manufacturing
was found decreased in 20 and 25% (Fig. 6). The from recycle waste polyethylene terephthalate
performance of 15% replacement of WPAC was highly bottles, Construction and Building Materials,
appreciable than the conventional concrete which 23: 2829-2835.
555
3. Nabgyoti Saikia and Jorge De Brito, 2012. Use of 5. Senthil Vadivel, T. and M. Doddurani, 2013. An
plastic waste as aggregate in cement mortar and Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of
concrete preparation: An review, Construction and Waste Plastic Fiber Reinforced Concrete,
Building Materials, 34: 385-401. International Journal of Emerging Trends in
4. Farreiri Luis, Jorge De Brito and Nabajyoti Saikia, Engineering and Development, 3(2): 395-401.
2012. Influence of curing condition on the mechanical
performance of concrete containing recycle plastic
aggregate, Teoria e Prática na Engenharia Civil,
36: 186-204.
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Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 24 (3): 552-556, 2016

An Experimental Study on Waste Plastic Aggregate Based

INTRODUCTION by their aesthetic appearances and smooth surface. Hence

Table 1: Quantity of Materials

Fig. 4(a): Split Tensile Strength Test

Fig. 1: Powdered Waste Plastic

Fig. 4(b): Split Tensile Strength Specimen after Testing

Fig. 2: Grading Aggregate

Fig. 5(a): Flexural Strength Test

Fig. 3(a): Compressive Strength Test

produces 19% higher compressive strength. The

The above said discussions made the authors to

The compressive strength of waste plastic aggregate

1. Reis, J.M.L., R. Chianelli-Junior, J.M.L. Cardoso and

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