Polymeric Waste from Recycling Refrigerators as an Aggregate for Self-Compacting Concrete

Lucas Ramon Roque Da Silva,Marcelo Anderson Souza,Valquíria Claret Dos Santos,Patricia Capellato,Vander Alkmin Ribeiro,Josimara Aparecida Da Silva,Matheus Brendon Francisco,Mirian De Lourdes Noronha Motta Melo,Michel Henry Bacelar De Souza,Paulo Cesar Gonçalves

doi:10.3390/su12208731

Lucas Ramon Roque Da Silva, Marcelo Anderson Souza + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208731

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Oct 21, 2020
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Federal University of Itajubá

Abstract

The inadequate disposal of household appliances by consumers and industries have annually been generating enormous amounts of polymeric waste (PW). So, the interest in reuse of PW in civil construction has increased. The production of new cementitious materials, such as concrete with PW, proves to be a promising solution to inappropriate disposal of this waste. In this study, self-compacting concrete (SCC) was developed with partial replacement of the coarse aggregates by polymeric waste (PW) from the recycling of refrigerators. In the SCC reference mixture, Portland cement, silica fume, sand, gravel and superplasticizer were used. The study also grouped the gravel as replaced by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of PW. In order to analyze the samples, the following tests were used: spreading, viscosity, passing ability, compressive strength, tensile strength, microstructure, modulus of elasticity, specific gravity, absorption, voids index and electrical resistivity. The SCC found showed adequate homogeneity and viscosity, staying within the normative parameters. The mechanical resistance was above 20 MPa; specific mass between 1870 to 2260 kg/m3; modulus of elasticity ranged from 34 to 14 GPa; and electrical resistivity between 319 to 420 ohm.m. Due to the mechanical resistance, the SCC with PW can be used for structural purposes and densely reinforced structures such as pillars, beams and foundation elements.

Highlights

Nowadays, concrete is the most widely used construction material worldwide
This study sought to characterize the self-compacting concrete (SCC) with PW from the recycling of refrigerators. Since this polymeric waste is shown to be an environmental liability, we tried to use it as a coarse aggregate in the SCC
Throughout this study the various properties in the fresh and hardened state of the SCC with partial replacement of coarse aggregate (CA) by PW were evaluated with five different mixtures

Summary

Introduction

Concrete is the most widely used construction material worldwide. Technological advances have enabled several advances in the sustainable construction market that has become an indispensable part of civilization [1]. The rapid growth of the world population and the spread of urbanization drove the development of the civil construction industry. There exists a great demand for natural aggregates, such as sand and gravel. The rate of extraction of natural raw materials is greater than the resources’ natural recovery, and this became an environmental problem. It is essential that alternative sources of recycled materials be used in concrete [1]

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