Rubberized-PET and Rubberized-Coconut Shell as Fine Aggregate in Concrete

Abstract

Worldwide wastes of plastic bottles which are also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), rubber tyres and coconut shells increase due to its large scale production, high demand in scale revolution and also disposal problems encountered. This is an environmental issue as waste plastic bottles, tyre rubber and coconut shell are difficult to biodegrade and involve processes either to recycle or reuse. The choice of these waste materials to be used as aggregates replacement is very essential as their characteristics give benefits to the performances of concretes. This paper reported the study carried out on the suitability of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET), rubber crumb and coconut shell as fine aggregate replacement in concrete. The performances of the concretes were assessed through its compressive strength and water absorption. In this study the fine aggregate was replaced by PET, rubber crumb and coconut shell at 10, 20 and 30 % by weight of binder and tested for 7, 28 and 60 days of curing. The overall compressive strength of concrete decreased when fine aggregate was replaced with PET, rubber crumb, coconut shells and rubber crumb with either PET or coconut shells. The results showed that by increasing the replacement of PET in higher proportion (up to 15 %), rubber crumb (up to 10 %) and coconut shells (up to 20 %), the compressive strength of concretes decreased, while the water absorption of concretes increased with the increase of PET, rubber crumb and coconut shell replacements. However, generally it can be concluded that the PET, rubber crumb and coconut shell can be utilized in replacing fine aggregates in concrete production.