Utilization of Plastic Waste as a Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregates in Concrete

Abstract

Medical Plastic waste is produced in large quantities in India each year, thus recycling it as a constituent in concrete can help to reduce waste disposal. The pandemic of Covid-19 has also resulted in increased production of the PP plastic waste. Because medical plastic wastes are harmful to both the environment and human health, using plastic trash in concrete will help to safeguard both the environment and human health Earlier, different research work were undertaken to figure out safe and feasible methods for plastic waste ejection but with scarce land resources and the threat it has posed to the environment has led us to take a step back and think of safe measures for its safe re-utilization. One such approach is utilization of plastic in concrete manufacturing. With a comparatively longer service life, concrete can act as a safe place for plastic utilization. Plastic wastes are employed as coarse aggregate in concrete in various proportions, and their suitability is tested, the impact of employing plastic waste as coarse aggregate replacement is investigated in this study. As part of the investigation of concrete’s plastic inclusion effect, different experimental research are discussed in this study. The current investigation was carried out on M30 grade concrete, with coarse aggregate replaced with medical PP plastic waste at varied proportions of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. The physical and mechanical properties were comparatively analysed, and the replacement value was optimised. Fresh and hardened concrete qualities were tested and the concrete replacement value for coarse aggregate was optimised at 40% partial replacement of natural coarse aggregate by PP plastic in concrete. Fresh and hardened concrete qualities were tested and analysed.