Influence of recycled waste high density polyethylene plastic aggregate on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of concrete

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June, 2015
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Utilisation of waste plastic materials as aggregates in concrete manufacturing is a partial solution to the environmental and ecological challenges associated with the use of plastics. The aim of this research is to reduce environmental pollution by using waste HDPE as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete. This study examines some mechanical and chemical effect of using waste High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete at various plastic compositions (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight of the coarse aggregate). The cleaned plastics were cut into flakes and then incorporated into the concrete. Particle size distribution (PSD) test was conducted on the aggregates and specific gravity test was also conducted for the plastic aggregates. The workability of the fresh concrete both for the control and concrete with plastic aggregates were determined using the slump cone test. Cube and prismatic beams of the samples were used to determine the compressive strength and flexural strength test of hardened concrete. The effect of water on the hardened properties was also determined for the various compositions. Finally, the effect of HNO3 and H2SO4 on the compressive strength of the composite and the masses of the various compositions were also determined. The workability of the fresh concrete was found to decrease with increasing plastic content. From the results obtained it was revealed that the compressive strength for the normal concrete is higher than that of plastic concrete and the compressive strength of the concrete also decreases appreciably with increase in the plastic content. The 28 th day flexural strength decrease marginally with increase in plastic content in the concrete. It was revealed from the acidic test that HNO3 virtually had no effect on the strength properties of the concrete whereas H2S04 had a deleterious effect on the concrete sample after 28 days of immersion. The mass of water absorbed by the concrete samples increased also with the increasing plastic content.
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A thesis submitted to the department of chemistry in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy degree (MPhil) in Polymer Science and Technology, 2015
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