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Insight into the polyethylene terephthalate powder on mechanical performance and sorptivity analysis of concrete
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Researchers turned recycled plastic bottle waste (PET) into nano-sized powder and mixed it into concrete at different amounts, replacing some cement. Lab testing found that replacing about 3% of cement with this PET powder made concrete stronger and less absorbent of water, but higher amounts or larger particle sizes weakened the concrete.
This study investigates the impact of incorporating Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) powder nanomaterials as a partial replacement for cement in concrete to improve water absorption and mechanical properties. The primary objective was to evaluate how these materials, when used as partial replacements for cement, affect concrete performance. The novelty was to convert the PET waste into stable nano powder materials to cover the plastic waste management from the community. The physical and chemical properties of the PET materials were characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Raman spectra, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The PT-nano material was found to be highly crystalline (86.6%). A series of concrete mixes was produced using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design, with varying percentages of nano-sized PET (0% to 5%). The properties of the resulting concrete, including slump, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile splitting strength, were tested at 7, 14, and 28 days. Results showed that the inclusion of nano-sized PET materials generally reduced the workability (slump) of the concrete mixes. However, an optimal mix containing approximately 3% PT-nano demonstrated a significant enhancement in mechanical properties compared to the control mix, 5% at 28 days. Compressive strength increased by 6.04%, flexural strength by 34%, and tensile splitting strength by 2.7%. This optimal mix also exhibited a 9% reduction in water absorption. Conversely, replacement levels above 3% materials and the use of larger particle sizes (1.18 mm and 2.36 mm) in the mix led to a significant decline in all measured properties. The study concluded that a low percentage addition of nano-sized PET is a viable method to enhance the strength and durability of concrete, but particle size and replacement percentage are critical controlling factors.
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Researchers tested using crushed waste plastic bottles (PET) in place of some sand in concrete. As more plastic was added, the concrete became less workable, lighter, and weaker, but mixes with up to 4% plastic still met standards for lightweight, non-structural building uses.
Performance evaluation of PET-modified concrete with PET granules and manufactured sand as fine aggregates
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Researchers found that mixing shredded plastic bottles into concrete, replacing some sand, actually made it stronger when used at the right amount (2%). This matters because it gives plastic waste a useful second life instead of it sitting in landfills or being burned, which releases toxic fumes harmful to human health.
Mechanical, Thermal, and Non-Destructive Evaluation of Concrete Incorporating Recycled PET Bottle Aggregates
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Researchers incorporated recycled PET bottle aggregates into concrete at up to 30% replacement of natural aggregate, finding that 10% fine PET slightly improves compressive strength while higher substitutions reduce strength by up to 31%, though thermal conductivity drops by up to 42%, making PET-based concrete promising for lightweight insulating applications.
Comparison of Concrete Properties Utilizing Expanded Polysterene beads and Shredded PET Bottle Particles as Fine Aggregate Replacement
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Researchers tested concrete made with recycled plastic (expanded polystyrene beads and shredded PET bottle particles) replacing some sand. As more plastic was added, the concrete got weaker and lighter, but resisted water absorption better. Only one mix, with 5% burnt PET, met the strength standard for structural lightweight concrete.
Synergistic impact of recycled PET microparticles on the mechanical performance of high-strength and conventional concretes
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This paper isn't about human health directly—it's about turning recycled plastic bottles (PET) into an ingredient for concrete instead of sending them to landfills. Researchers found that replacing more than 5% of the sand in concrete with crushed plastic makes the concrete noticeably weaker, so they recommend keeping plastic content low and reserving this approach for non-load-bearing uses like sidewalks or decorative structures rather than buildings or bridges.
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