Mechanical Properties of Polyester Polymer Concrete Using Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate

Abstract

If unsaturated polyester based on recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is properly formulated, it can be mixed with inorganic aggregates to produce polymer concrete with very high mechanical properties and durability performance. Despite the low manufacturing cost from plastic wastes, polymer concrete precast components are not popular in building panels, junction boxes, flow drains, trench lines, and transportation-related components because the time-dependent strength development mechanism and mechanical properties are still far from being fully understood. The objective of this paper is to investigate the mechanical properties such as the compressive strength, the splitting tensile strength, and the flexural strength of polymer concrete using an unsaturated polyester resin based on recycled PET. The relationships between the mechanical properties are analyzed. The polymer concrete using resin based on recycled PET can achieve compressive strength of 73.7 MPa, flexural strength of 22.4 MPa, splitting tensile strength of 7.85 MPa, and elastic modulus of 27.9 GPa, at 7 days. Some relationships exist between the compressive strength of polymer concrete and other properties (elastic modulus, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength). The use of recycled PET in polymer concrete helps in reducing the cost of the material, solving some of the solid waste problems posed by plastics, and saving energy.