Performance of concrete with recycled plastic as a partial replacement for sand

Abstract

Environmental concerns have led to severe restrictions on dredging for sand in much of India, including in the state of Goa, leading to direct impacts on the economics of concrete construction. At the same time, waste plastic is rarely recycled across India, with a large proportion of plastic simply exposed of into landfill presenting further environmental concerns. This paper describes a study seeking a solution to both problems by utilising processed waste plastic as a partial replacement for fine sand in concrete mixes. This initial work was supported through project funding from the British Council under the UKIERI (United Kingdom India Educational Research Initiative) programme. The compressive strength and performance of concrete mixes with plastic have been tested, and suggestions for suitable replacement percentages are proposed. Parameters including the size and aspect ratio of the plastic particles replacing the san aggregate and effects of chemical treatment are addressed. Results show that replacing sand with recycled plastic is viable and by using a suitable mix design the impact on the compressive strength of the concrete mix can be kept at acceptably low levels.