Assessment of glass fibre reinforced polymer waste reuse as filler in mortars

Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymer composite materials (FRP) have been extensively used worldwide as substitutes of other traditional materials due to their lightness, high mechanical performance, high chemical resistance and the possibility of having any shape required. The waste management of these materials is critical because most of the wastes produced are sent to landfills.This research intends to evaluate the influence of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) waste as a filler in cement-based mortars. The technical performance of the renders with GFRP was analysed in order to find a viable solution to recycle this waste. Two sets of mortars were analysed: mortars with a similar workability and mortars with the same water/binder ratio both with percentages of GFRP waste incorporation of 10%, 15%, 20% and 50%. The water behaviour was analysed through the water absorption by capillarity test and drying test. The mechanical behaviour was analysed through the dynamic modulus of elasticity, velocity of ultrasound waves, flexural strength and compressive strength.The incorporation of GFRP by-products in mortars is a viable solution for the reutilization of this waste. The GFRP waste improved the workability of the mortars and reduced their bulk density. The modified mortar with best technical performance was the mortar with 50% of GFRP by-product as substitute of natural aggregate. The initial water absorption of these mortar was reduced by over 80% (measured by the coefficient of capillarity) and the mechanical strength was significantly improved: at 365 days, there was an increase in flexural strength of 155% and in compressive strength of 166%.