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Polymeric Wastes as Concrete Aggregate for Acoustic and Thermal Insulation Enhancement
Summary
This review evaluates the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and scrap tire rubber (STR) waste as aggregate substitutes in concrete, finding that while mechanical strength generally declines, these recycled polymer materials can meaningfully reduce thermal conductivity and improve acoustic insulation. Incorporating plastic and rubber waste into concrete offers a practical strategy for diverting these pollutants from landfills.
Polymeric wastes, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and scrap tyre rubber (STR), pose a significant environmental issue.PET, a thermoplastic polymer, is widely used in manufacturing bottles, PET cups, containers, fibres, films, and packaging materials.On the other hand, colossal rubber tyre waste quantities represent other environmental problems.However, PET and STR wastes are often discarded in the immediate vicinity, contributing to water resource pollution and landfill site strain.One solution is to replace aggregates in concrete mixtures with these wastes, a preferable alternative to landfill disposal because of the large volume and slow decomposition rate in landfills.Recycling PET and STR helps mitigate environmental pollution and promotes resource conservation and sustainability.This study aims to review previous research undertaken in the field and validate the findings of concrete's fresh, mechanical, and functional characteristics.Based on the review, most studies confirmed a noticeable decline in the mechanical characteristics of mortar and concrete.However, these studies did not effectively focus on using PET and STR as sound and thermal insulation aggregates.Replacing PET and STR as aggregate in concrete can reduce thermal conductivity and acoustics.