Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Utilization of plastic waste as replacement of natural aggregates in sustainable concrete: effects on mechanical and durability properties

Researchers tested concrete made with recycled polyethylene and PET plastic aggregates substituted for natural sand and gravel, finding that while plastic additions reduced compressive strength and increased water permeability, they improved impact resistance and chloride resistance, with PET concrete showing no microplastic leaching.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of Plastic Waste in Concrete Pavement

Researchers investigated the use of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste as an aggregate in concrete pavement mix designs, finding that incorporation of HDPE improved mechanical performance and durability while reducing landfill waste and energy consumption in the concrete sector.

2025 Processes
Article Tier 2

A Step towards Sustainable Concrete with Substitution of Plastic Waste in Concrete: Overview on Mechanical, Durability and Microstructure Analysis

This review evaluates the use of plastic waste as a substitute material in concrete, analyzing its effects on mechanical strength, durability, and microstructure to assess its viability as a sustainable construction approach.

2022 Crystals 174 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential use of PET and PP as partial replacement of sand in structural concrete

Researchers tested whether PET and polypropylene plastic waste could partially replace sand in structural concrete, evaluating the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting material. Using post-consumer plastic in construction is one strategy for diverting plastic from the waste stream and preventing it from breaking down into environmental microplastics.

2021 Matéria (Rio de Janeiro) 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Sustainable Concrete: Fresh and Hardened Properties Incorporating Plastic Waste

This study investigated the effects of incorporating plastic waste into concrete on mechanical and durability properties, addressing the hydrophobic nature and poor interfacial adhesion of plastic as a challenge within circular economy frameworks for construction material sustainability.

2025 Current Problems in Research
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Plastic-Infused Concrete Bricks and Their Suitability for Interlocking: Mechanical, Durability, and Environmental Perspectives

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.

2025 European Journal of Innovative Studies and Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Experimental Tests on Lightweight Cement Mortar and Concrete with Recycled Plastic Wastes

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it tests the mechanical properties of cement mortar and concrete incorporating recycled plastic waste granules as aggregate substitutes, a construction materials engineering study.

2023 Buildings 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycled Mixed Plastic Fine Aggregate in Cement Concrete

Cement concrete mixtures incorporating mixed post-consumer recycled plastic as fine aggregate were characterized, finding that an optimized blend of polymer types produced workable concrete with mechanical properties suitable for construction applications.

2024 Springer Proceedings in Materials
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Concrete with Recycled Nanoplastics for Enhanced Sustainability

Researchers investigated the effects of incorporating recycled nanoplastics into concrete mixtures, evaluating the impact on mechanical properties including tensile, compressive, and splitting strength as well as thermal stability and insulation, framing nanoplastic waste as a potentially beneficial construction material additive.

2023 Annales de Chimie Science des Matériaux 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycling/reuse of plastic waste as construction material for sustainable development: a review

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.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 264 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Viability of Recycling Rice Husk Ash and Plastic Bag Waste to Enhance Durability of Lightweight Concrete

Researchers investigated using recycled rice husk ash and plastic bag waste to enhance durability of lightweight concrete, finding that these waste materials improved certain mechanical and durability properties while reducing environmental impact of construction.

2023 Buildings 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Repurposing Single-Use Plastic Waste as Artificial Aggregates Partially Replacing the Natural Fine Aggregate in Concrete — A Review

This review examines how single-use plastic waste can be repurposed as aggregate material in concrete mixtures, replacing natural sand. Analyzing 135 studies, it finds that recycled plastic aggregates can affect concrete mechanical properties while diverting plastic waste from landfills and oceans.

2023 Materials Plus 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating Plastic Waste into Concrete: Sustainable Solutions for the Environment

This review examines research on incorporating plastic waste into concrete as a partial replacement for conventional aggregates and cement. Researchers found that adding recycled plastic can reduce concrete density and improve thermal insulation properties, though it generally decreases compressive strength at higher replacement ratios. The study suggests that optimizing plastic content and treatment methods could make this approach a viable strategy for diverting plastic waste from landfills.

2024 Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

On the Cementitious Mixtures Reinforced with Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate

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.

2024 Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate as Aggregate Replacement on Mechanical and Ecotoxicological Properties of Mortar

Researchers tested mortar made with recycled PET plastic replacing some of the natural aggregate and found that it maintained comparable compressive strength while passing ecotoxicity tests with plants. The study suggests that incorporating recycled plastic waste into construction materials could be a viable way to reduce plastic in landfills without creating significant environmental harm.

2025 Recycling 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Performance of Melted Plastic as a Replacement for Sand in Paving Block

Researchers evaluated melted low-density polyethylene plastic waste as a substitute bonding agent for sand in paving blocks, testing compressive strength, water absorption, and wear resistance across varying plastic content ratios. Results showed that paving blocks with 10% melted LDPE met required performance standards, offering a potential pathway for incorporating plastic waste into construction materials.

2023 Advances in Technology Innovation 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural Rubber Latex-Modified Concrete with PET and Crumb Rubber Aggregate Replacements for Sustainable Rigid Pavements

Researchers tested concrete mixes that replaced conventional aggregates with recycled PET plastic and crumb rubber waste, modified with natural rubber latex. The results show that waste plastic can be incorporated into road pavement concrete, offering a way to divert plastic waste from landfills while creating durable construction materials.

2023 Preprints.org 2 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Systematic Review of Plastic Waste as Eco-Friendly Aggregate for Sustainable Construction

This systematic review examines how recycled plastic waste can be used as a substitute for traditional aggregates in concrete and construction materials. Using plastic waste in construction could divert it from landfills and waterways where it breaks down into microplastics. The review evaluates the structural performance and environmental benefits of incorporating plastic into building materials.

2022 International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the structural performance of waste PET-infused interlocking units versus traditional stone masonry

This study is not directly about microplastics — it evaluates the compressive strength and water absorption of interlocking bricks made from waste PET plastic as a partial cement replacement in construction.

2024 Engineering and Technology Journal 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of the current progress of plastic waste recycling technology in structural materials

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.

2023 Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry 210 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural Rubber Latex-Modified Concrete with PET and Crumb Rubber Aggregate Replacements for Sustainable Rigid Pavements

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it investigates the mechanical and durability properties of concrete modified with natural rubber latex and waste PET and crumb rubber aggregates as construction materials.

2023 Sustainability 9 citations
Article Tier 2

A brief review on polyvinyl chloride plastic as aggregate for construction materials

Researchers reviewed three decades of studies on using recycled PVC plastic waste as an aggregate in concrete and cement, examining how particle size, surface treatment, and mixing ratio affect the strength and durability of the resulting material. The review identifies practical strategies for incorporating PVC waste into construction, reducing plastic pollution while supporting sustainable building.

2023 Journal of Engineering and Applied Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Concrete Hollow Blocks Incorporating Polyethylene Terephthalate (PRT) and Copper Slag as a Commercial Concrete Alternative

Researchers assessed the structural performance of concrete hollow blocks incorporating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste and copper slag as partial replacements for conventional materials, evaluating durability and sustainability metrics. The study demonstrates that PET-inclusive concrete composites can meet performance standards while diverting plastic waste from landfills.

2024
Article Tier 2

Durability and Aging Characteristics of Sustainable Paving Mixture

Researchers incorporated shredded low-density polyethylene plastic waste into asphalt paving mixtures, testing the durability and aging characteristics of the resulting material. Reusing waste plastic in road construction is one approach to reducing the plastic that otherwise enters the environment and breaks down into microplastics.

2021 International Journal of Engineering 6 citations