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Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as a Partial Replacement of Aggregates in Sustainable Concrete
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Researchers tested waste PET plastic as a partial aggregate substitute in concrete, finding that up to 10% PET incorporation maintains acceptable compressive strength per ASTM standards, offering a potential pathway to divert non-biodegradable plastic waste into low-load-bearing construction materials.
Concrete use is enhanced daily due to infrastructure development, but it has adverse impacts on the environment. Modern lifestyles have led to the increased use of plastic, and, for households, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics are used. However, PET is non-biodegradable and causes adverse impacts on the environment and marine health. So, there is a need to minimize the amount of plastic waste by finding an alternative use for the waste. Our study focuses on creating sustainable concrete by utilizing PET-based plastic waste as a partial substitution for aggregates, aiming to use this concrete for various low-load-bearing construction applications. From our phase analysis study, no adverse effects were found on cement phase formation. We also found that up to 10 wt.% PET incorporation leads to acceptable compressive strength reduction as per ASTM guidelines. To enhance adhesion, the PET was roughened, and, from FESEM, we found effective adhesion of PET waste into the cement matrix. We believe that this sustainable concrete will not only contribute to waste reduction but also promote eco-friendly construction material development.
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A meta-analysis of concrete mixtures replacing fine aggregate with recycled PET plastic found that 5% substitution causes only a −2.6% average compressive strength reduction, while 10% substitution reduces strength by −11.9%, establishing 5% as a technically viable circular economy threshold. This is directly relevant to microplastic pollution research because incorporating plastic waste into construction materials diverts PET from the waste stream, reducing the volume available to fragment into environmental microplastics.
Valorization of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate as a Partial Fine Aggregate Replacement in Concrete: An Experimental Assessment of Fresh and Hardened Properties
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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.
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This review examines research on using post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste as a substitute for natural aggregate in cement mortar. Using PET waste in concrete addresses both plastic waste management and the need to reduce extraction of natural resources.
Experimental Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate by Plastic Waste
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Researchers partially replaced fine aggregate in concrete mixtures with processed PET and other waste plastic particles and found an optimal replacement level that preserved acceptable compressive and tensile strength while reducing density, beyond which plastic-to-cement bonding degraded mechanical performance, suggesting a viable route for incorporating plastic waste into lightweight non-structural construction.
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Researchers investigated the reuse of waste polyethylene terephthalate plastic as aggregate material in cement mortars and concretes. They found that incorporating PET waste into cementitious mixtures can be a viable strategy for recycling plastic while also reducing CO2 emissions from traditional aggregate mining. The study suggests that closing the life cycle of PET through construction materials could help address both plastic pollution and the environmental footprint of the building industry.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.