Effective utilization of electronic waste in concrete mixture as a partial replacement to coarse aggregates

Abstract

Waste materials from other industries are being utilized in concrete productions such as fly ash, silica fume etc. The waste materials from electronics and electrical industries are divided in two categories hazardous and inert waste materials. The inert waste is also known as E-waste describes obsolete, discarded and malfunctioned electrical or electronics devices. It is very difficult to dispose-off the E-waste materials.In the present study the influence of E-waste as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete mixture is investigated. The mix design of M20 grade of concrete for normal mix (without E-waste) and with a partial replacement of coarse aggregates with E-waste material with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% is carried out. The effect of E-waste particle size using less than 10 mm, between 10 to 15 mm and up to 20 mm on compressive strength of concrete cubes and flexural strength of beam is also studied. The compressive strength of concrete cubes and flexural strength of beam tests at 7, 14 and 28 days is determined with and without E-waste material.It is observed that the compressive strength of concrete is found to be 20.35 % higher when coarse aggregate is replaced by 15% with two sizes of E-waste material. The flexural strength of concrete beam is found to be 15.69 % higher when coarse aggregate is replaced by 15% with two sizes of E-waste material. Generally, greater than 15% replacement with any size of E-waste is not practicable or useful for the construction work. Thus, from the present study it can be concluded that E-waste material can be used as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate up to 15%. The problem of disposal of E-waste disposal can be solved and hence helps the environmental pollution generated by E-waste materials.