US20170088463A1 - Recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete - Google Patents
Recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete Download PDFInfo
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- US20170088463A1 US20170088463A1 US14/872,099 US201514872099A US2017088463A1 US 20170088463 A1 US20170088463 A1 US 20170088463A1 US 201514872099 A US201514872099 A US 201514872099A US 2017088463 A1 US2017088463 A1 US 2017088463A1
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- concrete
- recycled plastic
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B18/00—Use of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse as fillers for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse, specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
- C04B18/02—Agglomerated materials, e.g. artificial aggregates
- C04B18/022—Agglomerated materials, e.g. artificial aggregates agglomerated by an organic binder
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
- B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
- B02C23/00—Auxiliary methods or auxiliary devices or accessories specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating not provided for in preceding groups or not specially adapted to apparatus covered by a single preceding group
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
- B29B7/002—Methods
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B9/00—Making granules
- B29B9/02—Making granules by dividing preformed material
- B29B9/04—Making granules by dividing preformed material in the form of plates or sheets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B9/00—Making granules
- B29B9/12—Making granules characterised by structure or composition
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B14/00—Use of inorganic materials as fillers, e.g. pigments, for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of inorganic materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
- C04B14/02—Granular materials, e.g. microballoons
- C04B14/04—Silica-rich materials; Silicates
- C04B14/06—Quartz; Sand
- C04B14/068—Specific natural sands, e.g. sea -, beach -, dune - or desert sand
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B18/00—Use of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse as fillers for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse, specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
- C04B18/04—Waste materials; Refuse
- C04B18/06—Combustion residues, e.g. purification products of smoke, fumes or exhaust gases
- C04B18/08—Flue dust, i.e. fly ash
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B18/00—Use of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse as fillers for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of agglomerated or waste materials or refuse, specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
- C04B18/04—Waste materials; Refuse
- C04B18/12—Waste materials; Refuse from quarries, mining or the like
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B20/00—Use of materials as fillers for mortars, concrete or artificial stone according to more than one of groups C04B14/00 - C04B18/00 and characterised by shape or grain distribution; Treatment of materials according to more than one of the groups C04B14/00 - C04B18/00 specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Expanding or defibrillating materials
- C04B20/0076—Use of materials as fillers for mortars, concrete or artificial stone according to more than one of groups C04B14/00 - C04B18/00 and characterised by shape or grain distribution; Treatment of materials according to more than one of the groups C04B14/00 - C04B18/00 specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Expanding or defibrillating materials characterised by the grain distribution
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B28/00—Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing inorganic binders or the reaction product of an inorganic and an organic binder, e.g. polycarboxylate cements
- C04B28/02—Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing inorganic binders or the reaction product of an inorganic and an organic binder, e.g. polycarboxylate cements containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
- B29B17/04—Disintegrating plastics, e.g. by milling
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
- B29K2067/003—PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/06—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
- B29K2105/16—Fillers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/26—Scrap or recycled material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2509/00—Use of inorganic materials not provided for in groups B29K2503/00 - B29K2507/00, as filler
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/91—Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete
Definitions
- the present invention relates to concrete materials, and particularly to a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete.
- Concrete is one of the most important and frequently used materials in civil engineering, such as in high-low buildings, bridges, infrastructure and environmental protection facilities.
- Concrete is a composition of an aggregate and a binder substance.
- the binder substance and the aggregate are combined by a moistening agent to allow the binder substance to link with aggregate particles and form a solid block.
- the aggregate or aggregates make up about 60% to 75% of the total concrete volume. Therefore, the type and proportion of the aggregate used in concrete can significantly impact the weight, strength, durability, and elastic properties, of the concrete.
- secondary, industrial, granular and recycled plastic wastes as recycled and/or artificial aggregate instead of natural aggregate in the production of concrete as a direct replacement of coarse/fine natural aggregate.
- the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete is a composite material of recycled plastic having a filler encapsulated in the plastic.
- the recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- the RPA includes between about 30% and 50% by weight recycled plastic, the balance being filler.
- the RPA can include between about 30% and 50% by weight polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the balance being filler.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- the filler can include dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines.
- the synthetic RPA is best used to make concrete with a water-to-cement ratio of at least 0.5.
- a method of making synthetic RPA includes the steps of shredding and grinding recycled plastic, mixing the ground plastic with a filler to form a homogenized mixture, compressing the homogenized mixture in a mold, melting the plastic in the homogenized mixture to form a composite sheet or slab, and shredding the composite sheet or slab to form either coarse or fine aggregates for use in making concrete.
- the recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the filler includes a granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, and/or quarry fines.
- FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of samples of a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to the present invention, showing different types of synthetic recycled plastic aggregates having different compositions.
- FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Slump for different cementitious compositions, including concrete samples having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5, according to the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Fresh Concrete Densities for different cementitious compositions, including concrete samples having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5, according to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Compression Strength as a function of curing time (in days) for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Splitting Tensile Strength as a function of curing time (in days) for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Flexural Strength as a function of curing time for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a comparison of chloride permeability for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to the present invention.
- the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete is a composite material containing between about 30% and 50% by weight shredded recycled plastic, the balance being filler.
- the recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- the synthetic RPA can include about 50% by weight PET and about 50% by weight filler.
- the synthetic RPA can include about 30% by weight PET and about 70% by weight filler.
- the filler can be granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, and/or quarry fines.
- the filler can be embedded in a matrix of the recycled plastic.
- the concrete can have a water-to-cement ratio of at least 0.5.
- a method of making concrete having the synthetic RPA includes the steps of shredding and grinding plastic, wherein the plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET), mixing the shredded plastic with filler to form a homogenized mixture, compressing the homogenized mixture in a mold, melting the plastic in the homogenized mixture to form a composite sheet or slab, and crushing the composite sheet or slab to form either coarse or fine aggregates for use in making concrete.
- the filler can be granular waste such as dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines.
- the synthetic RPA includes filler and plastic as described above.
- the filler used in the synthetic RPA is granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, or quarry fines.
- the particles of the filler, such as dune sand particles preferably have a particle size less than or equal to 0.15 mm, for example.
- One manner in which this can be accomplished is by passing the filler, such as dune sand, through a sieve. After obtaining the particles of the desired size, the filler can be dried at room temperature. Preferably, the filler is free from any contamination.
- the recycled plastic used in the samples of synthetic RPA tested was polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- the plastic-filler percentages were adjusted to reach the optimal percentage, as illustrated in Table 1.
- Table 1 shows six different synthetic RPA compositions according to the present teachings, including two different percentages of recycled PET mixed with three different kinds of filler.
- the filler such as dune sand
- the fraction with the desired particle size such as less than or equal to 0.15 mm
- the recycled plastic is collected and either sorted into different polymer groups, such as PET, or used “as is” in a mixed stream. Regardless of the type of plastic used, the recycled plastic stream should be separated from non-polymer products (such as wood, glass, or metal) and then shredded and processed by grinding to obtain particles with a maximum size of 2.36 mm. After the plastic and the filler are dried, they are mixed together within a mixing machine to produce a homogenized mixture. The homogenized mixture is then preheated for approximately one hour at a temperature of from about 110° C. ⁇ 5° C.
- the homogenized mixture is then poured into a flat mold. After it is poured into the flat mold, the homogenized mixture is compressed.
- the mold containing the polymer-filler mixture is placed between two heated plates in a compression molding press machine.
- the compression molding machine is heated to a temperature of about 300° C., and the polymer-filler mixture is compressed with about twenty-five tons of force for about fifteen minutes.
- the resulting slab is slowly cooled in the mold through an automatic cooling system in the machine and later removed from the compression molding machine, to be cooled slowly in air at room temperature for about thirty minutes.
- the polymer-filler solid slab is crushed in a normal crusher machine to form either coarse aggregate and/or fine aggregate at the desired gradation.
- the synthetic RPA obtained by this process are then separated into different sizes to be mixed with cement and make concrete.
- the properties of the materials used in concrete have a great role in determining the quality of the concrete. As such, it is important to determine the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the materials used. For illustration purposes only, tests were conducted comparing the various properties of ordinary concrete (NC), conventional lightweight concrete (LWC), and concrete comprising the inventive synthetic RPA prepared as described above.
- a conventional lightweight concrete (LWC) is produced as a control using a local conventional lightweight aggregate, which is a type of volcanic rock collected from the western region of the Arabian Peninsula. The properties of this conventional lightweight aggregate are tabulated in Table 2.
- Synthetic recycled plastic was used to replace natural/conventional lightweight coarse aggregates at 100% replacement for making the inventive specimens of concrete including a synthetic RPA.
- These synthetic RPAs were manufactured in different sizes (as shown in FIG. 1 ) using different formulas.
- the properties of these synthetic RPAs are tabulated in Table 4.
- the samples are identified by a sample name of the format RPxFyA, where RPx is the number identifying the recycled plastic type and percentage, Fy is the number identifying the filler type and percentage, and A is aggregate.
- the quantity of the coarse aggregate is calculated by using the specific gravity of the synthetic RPA and/or conventional lightweight aggregate as a replacement for the specific gravity of natural coarse aggregates.
- the resultant mix proportions are illustrated in Table 5.
- the sample designation “NC” means normal concrete made using natural crushed stone
- the designation “LWC” means concrete made with the conventional volcanic lightweight aggregate described above.
- Table 1 for the compositions of the synthetic RPA designations used in Table 5.
- the designation “RP3F1C” means synthetic RPA concrete with recycled plastic 3 (50% recycled PET) and filler 1 (50% dune sand).
- results of the tests discussed below illustrate the effect that a specific aggregate can have on certain concrete properties. Specifically, the results illustrate the relation between slump, unit weight, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and chloride permeability for all of the synthetic RPA specimens having a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison of the slump (e.g. measure of workability of fresh concrete) of various concrete mixes done in this study.
- the slump of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C increased by 56.5, 0, 47.4, 60, 20, and 52.4, respectively, as compared with normal concrete.
- the slump of RP3F1C and RP4F1C increased by 9% and 16%, respectively.
- the slump of RP3F2C, RP3F3C, and RP4F2C decreased by 52%, 10%, 40%, respectively, as compared to lightweight concrete. Furthermore, the recycled plastic concrete results showed that with the increase in percentage of dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fine fillers from 50% to 70% the slump increased by 8%, 20%, and 10%, respectively.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of the fresh densities of various concrete mixes done in this study.
- the general trend observed was that the fresh density of the synthetic RPA concrete was significantly reduced as compared to normal concrete.
- insignificant trend was noted when a similar comparison was made between RPA concrete and conventional lightweight concrete.
- the fresh density of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C decreased by 17%, 19%, 16%, 14%, 17%, and 15%, respectively, when compared to normal concrete.
- the fresh density of RP3F3C, RP4F1C, and RP4F3C was seen to increase by 1%, 3%, and 2%, respectively, when compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the fresh density of RP3F2C decreased by 3%.
- the fresh densities of RP3F1C and RP4F2C were the same as that of conventional lightweight concrete.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a comparison of the compressive strengths of each specimen that was prepared by casting the fresh concrete in two layers in steel cubic molds with dimensions of 50 ⁇ 50 ⁇ 50 mm. Each layer was subjected to vibration for 3 seconds. After twenty-four (24) hours, the cubic specimens were demolded and cured in water at a temperature of 20° C. ⁇ 2° C. for 7, 14 and 28 days, respectively. After the curing process, the cubes were tested by a compressive strength machine to measure the compressive load and compressive strength at which the cubes will fail.
- the compression strengths of normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete, and concrete containing a synthetic RPA having a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 is illustrated.
- the compression strength of all mixes increases with the curing period (e.g. from 7 to 14 days and from 14 to 28 days).
- the general trend observed was that the compressive strength of RPA concrete increased as compared to the conventional lightweight concrete but decreased as compared to normal concrete.
- the percentage increase in the compressive strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, RP4F3C was 50%, 50%, 57%, 40%, 52%, 49%, respectively, at seven (7) days, 26%, 28%, 35%, 2%, 15%, 23%, respectively, at fourteen (14) days, and 35%, 30%, 40%, 8%, 9%, 26%, respectively, at twenty-eight (28) days as compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the percentage decrease in compressive strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 27%, 27%, 15%, 40%, 24%, and 28%, respectively, after seven (7) days, 28%, 26%, 18%, 45%, 37%, and 30%, respectively, at fourteen (14) days, and 18%, 24%, 11%, 41%, 41%, and 27%, respectively, at twenty eight (28) days as compared to normal concrete.
- the results showed that the compressive strength is decreased as the percentage of filler, such as dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines, is increased from 50% to 70%.
- RPA concrete satisfy the ASTM C330 requirement for compressive strength. Therefore, it can be used for such structural applications.
- the splitting tensile strength of concrete was calculated using the compression machine test. Cylinder specimens were made to be tested at six, fourteen, and twenty-eight days using cylinder having a diameter of 50 mm and a depth of 100 mm.
- the splitting tensile strength of RPA concrete increased initially compared to the splitting tensile strength of conventional lightweight concrete, but tended to decrease after fourteen and twenty-eight days, respectively.
- the percentage increase in splitting tensile strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 20%, 5%, 29%, 4%, 32%, and 27%, respectively, as compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the percentage decrease was 14%, 21%, 3%, 29%, 28%, 3%, respectively, and 18%, 17%, 11%, 31%, 30%, and 13%, respectively as compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the general trend observed for the splitting tensile strength of RPA concrete compared to normal concrete was a decrease at all stages.
- the percentage decrease in splitting tensile strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 29%, 41%, 21%, 46%, 17%, and 23%, respectively, at seven days, 47%, 51%, 41%, 56%, 56%, and 37%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 48%, 48%, 44%, 56%, 56%, and 45%, respectively at twenty-eight days.
- the flexural strength specimens were prepared by casting the fresh concrete in two layers in steel prism beam molds with dimension 160 ⁇ 40 ⁇ 40 mm, in which each layer was subjected to vibration for three (3) seconds. After twenty-four (24) hours, the beam specimens were demolded, and cured in water at a temperature of 20° C. ⁇ 2° C. for seven, fourteen, and twenty-eight days. After the curing process, the beams were tested by flexural strength machine to measure the flexural load and strength at which the beams will fail.
- FIG. 6 a comparison of flexural strengths of normal, conventional lightweight, and synthetic recycled plastic concretes cast at a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 is shown.
- the general trend is that the flexural strength of all mixes increases with the curing period.
- the flexural strength of RPA concrete increased as compared to conventional lightweight concrete but reduced as compared to normal concrete.
- the percentage increase in flexural strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C was 5%, 14%, 16%, 21, 12%, and 14%, respectively at seven days, 24%, 8%, 7%, 42%, 22%, and 12%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 26%, 34%, 23%, 41%, 43%, and 23%, respectively, at twenty-eight days as compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the percentage decrease in flexural strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C was 39%, 33%, 31%, 52%, 35%, and 33%, respectively, at seven days, 49%, 39%, 38%, 61%, 48%, and 41%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 39%, 46%, 36%, 51%, 52%, and 36%, respectively, at twenty-eight days as compared to normal concrete.
- the results showed that the flexural strength increased as the percentage of filler (dune sand, fly ash and quarry fines) increased from 50% to 70%.
- FIG. 7 illustrates the effect of incorporating RPA in concrete on chloride ion permeability at twenty-eight days.
- the general trend observed was that the charge passing through RPA concrete samples decreased as compared to normal concrete and conventional lightweight concrete.
- Results show that the chloride ion penetrability for RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C decreased by 30%, 66%, 36%, 36%, 69%, and 40%, respectively, as compared to normal concrete.
- the chlorine ion permeability decreased by 38%, 70%, 44%, 44%, 73%, and 47%, respectively, when compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- the synthetic RPA can be used as a total replacement of the natural/conventional lightweight aggregates in concrete.
- Use of plastic aggregate in concrete has certain advantages associated with its strength, light weight, durability, and elastic properties. As it is acknowledged that aggregate occupies nearly 70% to 75% of concrete volume, use of higher amounts of low weight materials (such as plastic) can contribute significantly to lightweight concrete. Lightweight concrete is useful in applications requiring concrete with a low density, such as pavement, floating structures, and shock absorbing structures. Moreover, the elastic properties of plastic will improve the elasticity of concrete and allow it to resist deformation.
- the presence of synthetic RPA in the concrete can make it more ductile and, as such, can significantly increase its deformation before dramatic failure.
- the concrete containing this property is more durable and can be utilized in applications that are exposed to severe chemical attack, such as chloride ion penetrability.
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Abstract
The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete is a composite material containing between 30% and 50% by weight shredded recycled plastic, the balance being a filler embedded in a matrix of the recycled plastic. The recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The filler can include dune sand, fly ash and quarry fines. The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate is best used to make concrete with a water-to-cement ratio of at least 0.5.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to concrete materials, and particularly to a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Concrete is one of the most important and frequently used materials in civil engineering, such as in high-low buildings, bridges, infrastructure and environmental protection facilities. Concrete is a composition of an aggregate and a binder substance. The binder substance and the aggregate are combined by a moistening agent to allow the binder substance to link with aggregate particles and form a solid block. Generally the aggregate or aggregates make up about 60% to 75% of the total concrete volume. Therefore, the type and proportion of the aggregate used in concrete can significantly impact the weight, strength, durability, and elastic properties, of the concrete. However, as a result of environmental concerns, there has been a growing trend for the use of secondary, industrial, granular and recycled plastic wastes as recycled and/or artificial aggregate instead of natural aggregate in the production of concrete as a direct replacement of coarse/fine natural aggregate. For example, air-cooled, blast furnace, and steel furnace slag have been used to replace coarse aggregate materials and fly ash and furnace bottom ash have been used to replace fine aggregate materials. Furthermore, by product materials, such as silica fume and rice husk ash have been used as supplementary cementing materials as a partial replacement of cement.
- Over the last 30 years, worldwide production of plastic grew by more than 500%. Current annual global production is estimated at over 100 million tons and is expected to increase by 3% a year. In the U.K., 7% of plastics are recycled each year, which is a small quantity when compared to the 275 million tons of natural aggregate used in concrete applications. About 80% of the plastic wastes are either left in stockpiles, as landfill material, or is illegally dumped. Most importantly, much of the non-decaying wastes will remain in the environment for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. The non-decaying waste will not only cause a waste disposal crisis, but also contribute to significant environmental problems.
- Use of synthetic aggregate in concrete has been limited; however, because synthetic aggregates do not provide the same physical, chemical, or mechanical properties as natural aggregates.
- Thus, a synthetic aggregate solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
- The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete is a composite material of recycled plastic having a filler encapsulated in the plastic. The recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The RPA includes between about 30% and 50% by weight recycled plastic, the balance being filler. For example, the RPA can include between about 30% and 50% by weight polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the balance being filler. The filler can include dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines. The synthetic RPA is best used to make concrete with a water-to-cement ratio of at least 0.5.
- A method of making synthetic RPA includes the steps of shredding and grinding recycled plastic, mixing the ground plastic with a filler to form a homogenized mixture, compressing the homogenized mixture in a mold, melting the plastic in the homogenized mixture to form a composite sheet or slab, and shredding the composite sheet or slab to form either coarse or fine aggregates for use in making concrete. The recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the filler includes a granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, and/or quarry fines.
- These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of samples of a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to the present invention, showing different types of synthetic recycled plastic aggregates having different compositions. -
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Slump for different cementitious compositions, including concrete samples having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5, according to the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Fresh Concrete Densities for different cementitious compositions, including concrete samples having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5, according to the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Compression Strength as a function of curing time (in days) for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Splitting Tensile Strength as a function of curing time (in days) for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a comparison of Flexural Strength as a function of curing time for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate and a water to cement ratio of 0.5 according to the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a comparison of chloride permeability for normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete and concrete having a synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to the present invention. - Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1-7 , the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete is a composite material containing between about 30% and 50% by weight shredded recycled plastic, the balance being filler. The recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Thus, for example, the synthetic RPA can include about 50% by weight PET and about 50% by weight filler. Alternatively, for example, the synthetic RPA can include about 30% by weight PET and about 70% by weight filler. The filler can be granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, and/or quarry fines. The filler can be embedded in a matrix of the recycled plastic. The concrete can have a water-to-cement ratio of at least 0.5. - A method of making concrete having the synthetic RPA includes the steps of shredding and grinding plastic, wherein the plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET), mixing the shredded plastic with filler to form a homogenized mixture, compressing the homogenized mixture in a mold, melting the plastic in the homogenized mixture to form a composite sheet or slab, and crushing the composite sheet or slab to form either coarse or fine aggregates for use in making concrete. The filler can be granular waste such as dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines.
- In order to test the use of the synthetic RPA as an aggregate in concrete, different samples of the synthetic RPA were prepared. The synthetic RPA includes filler and plastic as described above. The filler used in the synthetic RPA is granular waste, such as dune sand, fly ash, or quarry fines. The particles of the filler, such as dune sand particles, preferably have a particle size less than or equal to 0.15 mm, for example. One manner in which this can be accomplished is by passing the filler, such as dune sand, through a sieve. After obtaining the particles of the desired size, the filler can be dried at room temperature. Preferably, the filler is free from any contamination.
- The recycled plastic used in the samples of synthetic RPA tested was polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The plastic-filler percentages were adjusted to reach the optimal percentage, as illustrated in Table 1. Table 1 shows six different synthetic RPA compositions according to the present teachings, including two different percentages of recycled PET mixed with three different kinds of filler.
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TABLE 1 Composition of PET Composites Plastic Filler Designation Plastic Type Percentage Filler Type Percentage RP3F1A PET 50 Dune Sand 50 RP3F2A PET 50 Fly Ash 50 RP3F3A PET 50 Quarry Fines 50 RP4F1A PET 30 Dune Sand 70 RP4F2A PET 30 Fly Ash 70 RP4F3A PET 30 Quarry Fines 70 - Once the filler, such as dune sand, is sieved and the fraction with the desired particle size (such as less than or equal to 0.15 mm) is selected, it is dried at room temperature.
- The recycled plastic is collected and either sorted into different polymer groups, such as PET, or used “as is” in a mixed stream. Regardless of the type of plastic used, the recycled plastic stream should be separated from non-polymer products (such as wood, glass, or metal) and then shredded and processed by grinding to obtain particles with a maximum size of 2.36 mm. After the plastic and the filler are dried, they are mixed together within a mixing machine to produce a homogenized mixture. The homogenized mixture is then preheated for approximately one hour at a temperature of from about 110° C.±5° C.
- The homogenized mixture is then poured into a flat mold. After it is poured into the flat mold, the homogenized mixture is compressed. To compress the homogenized mixture, the mold containing the polymer-filler mixture is placed between two heated plates in a compression molding press machine. The compression molding machine is heated to a temperature of about 300° C., and the polymer-filler mixture is compressed with about twenty-five tons of force for about fifteen minutes. After fully melting the polymer and the subsequent encapsulation of filler, the resulting slab is slowly cooled in the mold through an automatic cooling system in the machine and later removed from the compression molding machine, to be cooled slowly in air at room temperature for about thirty minutes. Utilizing a screen created to meet certain specifications, the polymer-filler solid slab is crushed in a normal crusher machine to form either coarse aggregate and/or fine aggregate at the desired gradation. As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , the synthetic RPA obtained by this process are then separated into different sizes to be mixed with cement and make concrete. - As discussed herein, the properties of the materials used in concrete have a great role in determining the quality of the concrete. As such, it is important to determine the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the materials used. For illustration purposes only, tests were conducted comparing the various properties of ordinary concrete (NC), conventional lightweight concrete (LWC), and concrete comprising the inventive synthetic RPA prepared as described above. A conventional lightweight concrete (LWC) is produced as a control using a local conventional lightweight aggregate, which is a type of volcanic rock collected from the western region of the Arabian Peninsula. The properties of this conventional lightweight aggregate are tabulated in Table 2.
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TABLE 2 Properties of Conventional Lightweight Aggregate Test Result Bulk Specific Gravity (OD Basis) 1.41 Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD Basis) 1.67 Apparent Specific Gravity 1.41 Absorption (%) 18.6 Dry Unit weight (dense condition) kg/m3 697 Voids (dense condition) (%) 50 Fineness Modulus 6.5 Type Uncrushed Maximum Size 10 mm - In the same manner for comparison purposes, natural crushed stone was used to produce normal concrete (NC). The properties of this natural aggregate are illustrated in Table 3.
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TABLE 3 Properties of Natural Aggregate Test Result Bulk Specific Gravity (OD Basis) 2.59 Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD Basis) 2.63 Apparent Specific Gravity 2.69 Absorption (%) 1.48 Dry Unit weight (dense condition) kg/m3 1608 Voids (dense condition) (%) 37.79 Fineness Modulus 5.83 Type Crushed Maximum Size 10 mm - Synthetic recycled plastic was used to replace natural/conventional lightweight coarse aggregates at 100% replacement for making the inventive specimens of concrete including a synthetic RPA. These synthetic RPAs were manufactured in different sizes (as shown in
FIG. 1 ) using different formulas. The properties of these synthetic RPAs are tabulated in Table 4. The samples are identified by a sample name of the format RPxFyA, where RPx is the number identifying the recycled plastic type and percentage, Fy is the number identifying the filler type and percentage, and A is aggregate. -
TABLE 4 Properties of Synthetic RPAs Replacing Coarse Aggregates Test RP3F1A RP3F2A RP3F3A RP4F1A RP4F2A RP4F3A Bulk Specific 1.81 1.68 1.79 1.95 1.79 1.94 Gravity (OD Basis) Bulk Specific 1.83 1.69 1.81 1.97 1.81 1.97 Gravity (SSD Basis) Apparent Specific 1.84 1.69 1.83 2.01 1.83 2.00 Gravity Absorption (%) 0.89 0.56 0.95 1.38 1.21 1.68 Dry Unit weight 1131.92 1057.95 1119.55 1260.37 1128.54 1222.65 (dense condition) kg/m3 Voids (dense 37.44 37.02 33.35 24.97 32.82 27.22 condition) (%) Fineness Modulus 5.795 5.568 5.671 5.869 5.646 5.743 Type Crushed Crushed Crushed Crushed Crushed Crushed Maximum Size 10 mm 10 mm 10 mm 10 mm 10 mm 10 mm - For those mixes containing synthetic RPA and/or conventional lightweight aggregate, the quantity of the coarse aggregate is calculated by using the specific gravity of the synthetic RPA and/or conventional lightweight aggregate as a replacement for the specific gravity of natural coarse aggregates. The resultant mix proportions are illustrated in Table 5. In Table 5, the sample designation “NC” means normal concrete made using natural crushed stone, the designation “LWC” means concrete made with the conventional volcanic lightweight aggregate described above. Reference can be made to Table 1 for the compositions of the synthetic RPA designations used in Table 5. For example, the designation “RP3F1C” means synthetic RPA concrete with recycled plastic 3 (50% recycled PET) and filler 1 (50% dune sand).
-
TABLE 5 Mix Proportions for Sample Tests Recycled Fine Coarse Lightweight Plastic W/C Water Cement Aggregates Aggregates Aggregates Aggregates S. No Ratio Kg/m3 Kg/m3 Kg/m3 Kg/m3 Kg/m3 Kg/m3 NC0.5 0.5 243.32 450 586.85 1067.00 — — LWC0.5 0.5 317.47 450 776.25 — — RP3F1C0.5 0.5 234.70 450 547.36 — 471.89 765.74 RP3F2C0.5 0.5 231.88 450 537.90 — 715.70 RP3F3C0.5 0.5 235.19 450 551.60 — — 757.37 RP4F1C0.5 0.5 239.30 450 508.58 — — 852.64 RP4F2C0.5 0.5 237.05 450 536.60 763.45 RP4F3C0.5 0.5 241.65 450 537.02 827.12 - The results of the tests discussed below illustrate the effect that a specific aggregate can have on certain concrete properties. Specifically, the results illustrate the relation between slump, unit weight, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and chloride permeability for all of the synthetic RPA specimens having a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5.
-
FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison of the slump (e.g. measure of workability of fresh concrete) of various concrete mixes done in this study. As shown inFIG. 2 , there was, for the most part, an increase in slump of the synthetic RPAs as compared with normal concrete, whereas an unsteady trend was observed for lightweight concrete. For example, the slump of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C increased by 56.5, 0, 47.4, 60, 20, and 52.4, respectively, as compared with normal concrete. When compared to lightweight concrete, the slump of RP3F1C and RP4F1C increased by 9% and 16%, respectively. On the other hand, the slump of RP3F2C, RP3F3C, and RP4F2C decreased by 52%, 10%, 40%, respectively, as compared to lightweight concrete. Furthermore, the recycled plastic concrete results showed that with the increase in percentage of dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fine fillers from 50% to 70% the slump increased by 8%, 20%, and 10%, respectively. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of the fresh densities of various concrete mixes done in this study. As shown inFIG. 3 , the general trend observed was that the fresh density of the synthetic RPA concrete was significantly reduced as compared to normal concrete. Whereas, insignificant trend was noted when a similar comparison was made between RPA concrete and conventional lightweight concrete. The fresh density of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C decreased by 17%, 19%, 16%, 14%, 17%, and 15%, respectively, when compared to normal concrete. The fresh density of RP3F3C, RP4F1C, and RP4F3C was seen to increase by 1%, 3%, and 2%, respectively, when compared to conventional lightweight concrete. The fresh density of RP3F2C decreased by 3%. The fresh densities of RP3F1C and RP4F2C were the same as that of conventional lightweight concrete. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a comparison of the compressive strengths of each specimen that was prepared by casting the fresh concrete in two layers in steel cubic molds with dimensions of 50×50×50 mm. Each layer was subjected to vibration for 3 seconds. After twenty-four (24) hours, the cubic specimens were demolded and cured in water at a temperature of 20° C.±2° C. for 7, 14 and 28 days, respectively. After the curing process, the cubes were tested by a compressive strength machine to measure the compressive load and compressive strength at which the cubes will fail. - Continuing with reference to
FIG. 4 , the compression strengths of normal concrete, conventional lightweight concrete, and concrete containing a synthetic RPA having a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 is illustrated. The compression strength of all mixes increases with the curing period (e.g. from 7 to 14 days and from 14 to 28 days). The general trend observed was that the compressive strength of RPA concrete increased as compared to the conventional lightweight concrete but decreased as compared to normal concrete. The percentage increase in the compressive strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, RP4F3C was 50%, 50%, 57%, 40%, 52%, 49%, respectively, at seven (7) days, 26%, 28%, 35%, 2%, 15%, 23%, respectively, at fourteen (14) days, and 35%, 30%, 40%, 8%, 9%, 26%, respectively, at twenty-eight (28) days as compared to conventional lightweight concrete. - The percentage decrease in compressive strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 27%, 27%, 15%, 40%, 24%, and 28%, respectively, after seven (7) days, 28%, 26%, 18%, 45%, 37%, and 30%, respectively, at fourteen (14) days, and 18%, 24%, 11%, 41%, 41%, and 27%, respectively, at twenty eight (28) days as compared to normal concrete. Among the RPA concrete the results showed that the compressive strength is decreased as the percentage of filler, such as dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines, is increased from 50% to 70%. As demonstrated by the results described herein, RPA concrete satisfy the ASTM C330 requirement for compressive strength. Therefore, it can be used for such structural applications.
- The reduction in compression strength of the RPA compared to the normal concrete was expected due to the weakness of the aggregate compared to natural crushed stone and the weakness in the bonding between cement mortar and synthetic RPA particles. This weakness is due to differences in surface texture and size of synthetic plastic aggregate particles.
- The splitting tensile strength of concrete was calculated using the compression machine test. Cylinder specimens were made to be tested at six, fourteen, and twenty-eight days using cylinder having a diameter of 50 mm and a depth of 100 mm.
- Comparison of splitting tensile strengths for the concrete mixes made with RPA having a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 are presented in
FIG. 5 . The general trend observed was that the splitting tensile strength for all mixes increased with the curing period. - The splitting tensile strength of RPA concrete increased initially compared to the splitting tensile strength of conventional lightweight concrete, but tended to decrease after fourteen and twenty-eight days, respectively. At seven days, for example, the percentage increase in splitting tensile strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 20%, 5%, 29%, 4%, 32%, and 27%, respectively, as compared to conventional lightweight concrete. Whereas, at fourteen and twenty-eight days the percentage decrease was 14%, 21%, 3%, 29%, 28%, 3%, respectively, and 18%, 17%, 11%, 31%, 30%, and 13%, respectively as compared to conventional lightweight concrete.
- The general trend observed for the splitting tensile strength of RPA concrete compared to normal concrete was a decrease at all stages. When compared to normal concrete, the percentage decrease in splitting tensile strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C, and RP4F3C was 29%, 41%, 21%, 46%, 17%, and 23%, respectively, at seven days, 47%, 51%, 41%, 56%, 56%, and 37%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 48%, 48%, 44%, 56%, 56%, and 45%, respectively at twenty-eight days. Among the RPA concrete, the results showed that the splitting tensile strength increased as the percentage of filler (dune sand, fly ash and quarry fines) increased from 50% to 70%. As demonstrated by the results described herein, RPA concrete satisfy the ASTM C330 requirement for splitting tensile strength. Therefore, it can be used for such structural applications.
- It is to be noted that the factors causing reduction in the splitting tensile strength in concrete containing synthetic RPA are the same as that which cause reduction in the compressive strength, as stated previously.
- Using a simple beam (Prism) with one point loading, the flexural strength specimens were prepared by casting the fresh concrete in two layers in steel prism beam molds with dimension 160×40×40 mm, in which each layer was subjected to vibration for three (3) seconds. After twenty-four (24) hours, the beam specimens were demolded, and cured in water at a temperature of 20° C.±2° C. for seven, fourteen, and twenty-eight days. After the curing process, the beams were tested by flexural strength machine to measure the flexural load and strength at which the beams will fail.
- In
FIG. 6 , a comparison of flexural strengths of normal, conventional lightweight, and synthetic recycled plastic concretes cast at a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 is shown. The general trend is that the flexural strength of all mixes increases with the curing period. - The flexural strength of RPA concrete increased as compared to conventional lightweight concrete but reduced as compared to normal concrete. The percentage increase in flexural strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C was 5%, 14%, 16%, 21, 12%, and 14%, respectively at seven days, 24%, 8%, 7%, 42%, 22%, and 12%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 26%, 34%, 23%, 41%, 43%, and 23%, respectively, at twenty-eight days as compared to conventional lightweight concrete. On the other hand the percentage decrease in flexural strength of RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C was 39%, 33%, 31%, 52%, 35%, and 33%, respectively, at seven days, 49%, 39%, 38%, 61%, 48%, and 41%, respectively, at fourteen days, and 39%, 46%, 36%, 51%, 52%, and 36%, respectively, at twenty-eight days as compared to normal concrete. Among the RPA concrete, the results showed that the flexural strength increased as the percentage of filler (dune sand, fly ash and quarry fines) increased from 50% to 70%.
- The reason behind this reduction is the same as that for compressive strength reduction, as mentioned earlier. Moreover, there are two main reasons for reduction in flexural strength of such concrete. One is a decrease in the amount of solid material carrying load, which was replaced by RPA. The second reason is concentration of stresses around the boundaries of recycled plastic aggregates.
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FIG. 7 illustrates the effect of incorporating RPA in concrete on chloride ion permeability at twenty-eight days. The general trend observed was that the charge passing through RPA concrete samples decreased as compared to normal concrete and conventional lightweight concrete. Results show that the chloride ion penetrability for RP3F1C, RP3F2C, RP3F3C, RP4F1C, RP4F2C and RP4F3C decreased by 30%, 66%, 36%, 36%, 69%, and 40%, respectively, as compared to normal concrete. Similarly, the chlorine ion permeability decreased by 38%, 70%, 44%, 44%, 73%, and 47%, respectively, when compared to conventional lightweight concrete. - This means that the resistance of concrete containing synthetic RPA to chloride ion penetrability increases with the incorporation of RPA. This may be because recycled plastic aggregate particles block or distract the transfer of chloride ions.
- The synthetic RPA can be used as a total replacement of the natural/conventional lightweight aggregates in concrete. Use of plastic aggregate in concrete has certain advantages associated with its strength, light weight, durability, and elastic properties. As it is acknowledged that aggregate occupies nearly 70% to 75% of concrete volume, use of higher amounts of low weight materials (such as plastic) can contribute significantly to lightweight concrete. Lightweight concrete is useful in applications requiring concrete with a low density, such as pavement, floating structures, and shock absorbing structures. Moreover, the elastic properties of plastic will improve the elasticity of concrete and allow it to resist deformation.
- Further, the presence of synthetic RPA in the concrete can make it more ductile and, as such, can significantly increase its deformation before dramatic failure. The concrete containing this property is more durable and can be utilized in applications that are exposed to severe chemical attack, such as chloride ion penetrability.
- It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (8)
1. A synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete, comprising:
shredded recycled plastic, the shredded recycled plastic being from about 30% to about 50% by weight of the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA), and
a filler, the filler being embedded in a matrix of the shredded recycled plastic and providing the balance of the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA),
wherein the filler has a maximum particle size of 0.15 mm,
wherein the shredded recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and wherein the shredded recycled plastic has a maximum particle size of 2.36 mm.
2. The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to claim 1 , wherein the filler includes granular waste selected from the group consisting of dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines.
3-4. (canceled)
5. The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to claim 1 , wherein the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) is shredded and has a maximum particle size of 10 mm.
6. The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to claim 1 , wherein the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) includes about 50% by weight polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and about 50% by weight filler.
7. The synthetic recycled plastic aggregate for use in concrete according to claim 1 , wherein the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) includes about 30% by weight polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and about 70% by weight filler.
8-20. (canceled)
21. A synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA) for use in concrete, consisting of:
shredded recycled plastic, the shredded recycled plastic being from about 30% to about 50% by weight of the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA), the shredded recycled plastic having a maximum particle size of 2.36 mm; and
wherein the shredded recycled plastic includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
a filler, the filler being embedded in a matrix of the shredded recycled plastic and providing the balance of the synthetic recycled plastic aggregate (RPA), the filler including granular waste; and
wherein the granular waste having a maximum particle size of 0.15 mm, and the granular waste is selected from the group consisting of dune sand, fly ash, and quarry fines.
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US20130130009A1 (en) * | 2010-05-20 | 2013-05-23 | Echotect B.V. | Thin slab of a composite material comprising a solid filler and a thermoplastic binder |
GB201012554D0 (en) * | 2010-07-27 | 2010-09-08 | Thompson Gary | Process for manufacturing a building material |
US8921463B1 (en) | 2014-05-16 | 2014-12-30 | King Saud University | Synthetic aggregate for use in concrete |
CN104193220A (en) | 2014-08-20 | 2014-12-10 | 山东碧空环保科技股份有限公司 | PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic concrete and preparation method thereof |
-
2015
- 2015-09-30 US US14/872,099 patent/US20170088463A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2017
- 2017-07-21 US US15/656,066 patent/US10294155B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2018
- 2018-07-18 SA SA118390726A patent/SA118390726B1/en unknown
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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GB2574655A (en) * | 2018-06-14 | 2019-12-18 | Thomas Mcghie Andrew | A method of plastic disposal |
US20220126482A1 (en) * | 2018-10-22 | 2022-04-28 | Donald William Thomson | Preconditioned resin aggregate |
US11633878B2 (en) * | 2018-10-22 | 2023-04-25 | Crdc Global Limited | Preconditioned resin aggregate |
CN111116116A (en) * | 2019-12-17 | 2020-05-08 | 深圳市恒星建材有限公司 | Compression-resistant carbonization-resistant recycled concrete and preparation method thereof |
CN111704376A (en) * | 2020-06-29 | 2020-09-25 | 中交上海三航科学研究院有限公司 | Composite sand and preparation method thereof |
CN111704376B (en) * | 2020-06-29 | 2022-03-04 | 中交上海三航科学研究院有限公司 | Composite sand and preparation method thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US10294155B2 (en) | 2019-05-21 |
SA118390726B1 (en) | 2021-08-04 |
US20170320776A1 (en) | 2017-11-09 |
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