PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF SAND WITH BOTTLE PLASTIC WASTE AS A MEANS OF RESOURCE RECOVERY IN THE PRODUCTION OF BRICKS

Abstract

The increase in use of plastics without recycling has been creating environmental pollution and other undesirable effects like agricultural effect and huge amount of its wastes. The objective of this study was to examine the partial replacement for fine aggregates (sand) with PET plastic waste as a means of resource recovery for better environmental management. The materials used for this study were:-plastic waste, cement, sand, water, fly Ash. Brick mix design were prepared and a total of 5 mixes with 45 samples were prepared consisting of 20% of cement ,30% sand and 50% fly ash, this ratios were used during preparing normal fly ash brick. The specimens were produced with percentage replacements of the sand by 0%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 50% of PET plastic waste aggregate. Moreover, a control mix with no replacement of the sand was used to make a comparative analysis. According to ASTM standard and ES specification the compressive strength result at 10% and 20% replacement satisfy the standard but at 40% and 50% replacement could not satisfy the standard. Also like compressive strength there was an increase of tensile strength and flexural strength were recorded with increasing PET bottle aggregate content up to 10% and 20% replacement respectively as compared to the control sample, but more than this percentage replacement of fine aggregate with PET bottle fiber results in reduction of tensile strength and flexural strength as compared to the control sample. Also, the percentage of water absorption and moisture content were increase as the plastic waste content in the brick increase as shown in the test result, lastly as plastic content in brick matrix increased the temperature required to melt the brick decreased, so the temperature resistance of the brick decreased as the plastic content in the brick matrix increase. The overall results shown that it was possible to use recycled PET bottle plastic waste in brick production as a partial replacement for sand; nevertheless, the % replacement should limited