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Assessment of Plastic-Infused Concrete Bricks and Their Suitability for Interlocking: Mechanical, Durability, and Environmental Perspectives
Summary
Researchers tested plastic-infused concrete bricks as a way to repurpose plastic waste in construction materials, evaluating their mechanical strength and suitability for different building applications. The study explores whether incorporating plastic waste into durable materials can reduce the plastic entering the environment as microplastics.
The global spread of plastic waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a significant environmental and sustainability concern. The current study focuses on the mechanical, durability, and ecological characteristics of plastic-infused concrete bricks, and there exists the chance of using the bricks as interlocking tiles. To achieve this, the concrete mix (1:2:4) was partially replaced in such a way that, at the landscape of 0-20 in this case, the fine aggregate was entirely replaced by PET items (1-4 mm). The density, according to experimental results, decreased with the addition of PET to 2270 kg/m³, indicating that the lightweight concrete is being altered. Moderate degrees (8-15%) of compressive strength were found at a 10-15% replacement rate. Nonetheless, with a 5-10% PET replacement rate, the compressive strength fell within the ASTM C936-20 standard for paving units, demonstrating structural adequacy. The water absorption rate increased by 6.2-9.3 percent, which was correlated with an increase in porosity (r = 0.89). Nevertheless, freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycle tests retained more than 90% strength of 10% PET. The SEM analysis revealed good dispersion and ITZ bonding, as indicated by improved interfacial adhesion and a decrease in the ratio of microcracks, particularly with the optimal content of PET. The tests on the leachate revealed that the levels of Pb, Cd, and Cr were lower (below 0.03 mg/L), and shedding of microplastics was also minimal (0.08-0.40mg/kg), indicating that the environment is safe. The life-cycle indicators showed a reduction in the carbon footprint of up to 13.9%, energy consumption of up to 12.5%, and a cost savings of up to 8.4%, demonstrating substantial savings in eco-efficiency. The ANOVA findings (p < 0.05) indicated that PET content was a significant variable affecting strength and durability. The results conclude that a 5-10% replacement of PET enhances optimality in terms of strength, durability, and sustainability, offering a new, low-carbon, and most economical approach to converting plastic waste into durable interlocking concrete tiles that promote the objectives of the circular economy.