We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Valorization of Plastic Waste through Incorporation into Construction Materials
AI summary Read the abstract
This review of 60 studies examines how plastic waste is being incorporated into construction materials — including concrete, asphalt, and bricks — as a sustainable valorization strategy, finding that recycled plastics can improve certain material properties while diverting waste from landfills.
The growing plastic pollution has prompted the quest to reduce plastic waste sustainably and control the mismanaged plastic stream. The valorization of plastic waste through reusing and recycling has received much attention as a sustainable solution to the global plastic problem, and the construction sector provides an important avenue for such an endeavor. This review aims to present the latest advances in the valorization of plastic waste as construction and building materials through the review of 60 relevant scholarly papers and a content analysis of the papers. In the construction sector, plastic waste can be valorized as additives or raw materials for brick production. As additives, plastic waste is added at different proportions (1%–70%) with other materials, including non-plastic waste, followed by curing to acquire the desired properties. Plastic waste is used as a raw material to contain strength-imparting materials. The former has been reported to have good strengths (5.15-55.91 MPa), chemical, and thermal resistance, whereas the latter may impart lower strengths (0.67-15.25 MPa). Plastic waste is also used as additives for road pavement, primarily as substitutes for concrete-making materials, and was observed to produce desirable strengths (0.95–35 MPa) at appropriate proportions (0.5–25%), indicating the importance of optimizing the plastic contents in the concrete. Plastic waste has been recycled as plastic lumber, plastic-based door panels and gates, as well as insulation materials. Plastic-based construction materials are generally lightweight, resistant to chemicals and heat, and have good sound insulation, but they may pose a fire safety concern.
More Papers Like This
Recycling/reuse of plastic waste as construction material for sustainable development: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how waste plastic can be incorporated into construction materials — as binders, aggregates, or cement substitutes in bricks, tiles, concrete, and roads — finding that plastic-modified materials often show competitive strength properties while simultaneously diverting plastic waste from landfills.
Recycling of Plastic Waste in the Construction Industry
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the use of recycled plastic waste in construction applications including concrete, asphalt, insulation, and structural composites, assessing the performance, durability, and environmental benefits of incorporating waste plastics into building materials to reduce landfill disposal.
The Holistic Approach of Plastic Waste Recycling for Sustainable Development
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how plastic waste can be incorporated into construction materials including bricks, tiles, concrete, and roads as a binder, aggregate, or modifier. The authors find that using plastic waste in construction reduces landfill burden and dependence on mined resources, though performance effects vary by application.
A critical review of the current progress of plastic waste recycling technology in structural materials
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed technologies for recycling plastic waste into construction materials such as concrete and asphalt, finding this approach can meaningfully reduce the environmental burden of plastic pollution. Incorporating plastic waste into building materials offers a practical path toward both waste reduction and more sustainable construction.
Plastic Waste Utilization in Sustainable Construction Materials: A Sustainable Approach for Waste Management and Green Construction
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper looks at how waste plastic (like bottles and packaging) could be mixed into concrete, roads, and bricks instead of piling up in landfills or being burned, which pollutes air and water. The findings suggest this could make building materials cheaper and more durable while cutting down plastic pollution, though the paper doesn't address whether these materials might shed microplastics over time, which is worth watching as this approach gets adopted. This is a summary of existing research rather than new lab testing, so more real-world studies are needed before we know the full health and safety picture.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.