Special issue: the KEK asymmetric B-factory

Abstract

In this paper, the use of plastic wastes as the only binding material to develop a cemented construction material, PlasticWasteCrete (PWC), was investigated. Two types of plastic waste (high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE)) are blended (HDPE/LDPE blend ratio: 50/50) and then melted at a temperature of 250 °C to develop the binding phase of the PWC. Subsequently, the melted plastic is mixed with mineral aggregates (sand, gravel) in two plastic contents (50% and 60%) to prepare the PWC samples. Then, the compressive and split tensile strength, stress–strain behaviour, microstructure, density and water absorption ability of the PWC samples cured at different times (1, 3, 7, 28 days) are evaluated. The results of this study show the feasibility of using melted plastics as the only binder to develop a building material. From the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test and Imagej analysis, the PWC with 50% plastic content (PWC50) was found to have more voids and coarser pore structure than that with 60% plastic content (PWC60). These MIP results were also confirmed by the larger capillary pores and higher rate of absorption for PWC50 when compared to PWC60. These results were found to be in line with the strength tests for which the PWC60 with less porosity has higher strength in compression and tension than PWC50. Regardless of age and plastic waste content, the compressive strength of PWC was found to be higher than 10 MPa, which somehow exhibit interesting mechanical strength behaviour with ductile deformation and interesting post peak strength capable of supporting loads after failure. The density was found to decrease with the increase of plastic content, and the average density was close to 2 g/cm3, considered as lightweight material. The findings of this study are encouraging and place this PWC as a promising candidate for producing construction materials while diminishing the amount of plastic waste to be managed and the associated environmental issues as well as contributing to generate additional revenues.