A study to assess the suitability of using polypropylene in concrete as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate

Abstract

AMONG THE WASTE POLYMERIC MATERIALS, WHICH ARE USED IN BANGLADESH, POLYPROPYLENE (PP) IS A NOTABLE ONE DUE TO ITS EXTENSIVE USE IN THE PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC FURNITURES, NECESSARY UTENSILS, TOYS, BUCKETS, DOORS ETC. DUE TO ITS NON-BIODEGRADABLE NATURE, WITH A VISION OF RECYCLING THEM, A PROCESS OF CONVERTING THEM INTO LOW DENSITY PLASTIC COARSE AGGREGATE CAN BE INTRODUCED BY MELTING & COOLING THEM INTO THE MOLDS. IN THIS STUDY, THESE LOW DENSITY PLASTIC COARSE AGGREGATES HAVE BEEN USED TO PARTIALLY REPLACE THE CONVENTIONAL COARSE AGGREGATE (BRICK CHIPS) BY 10%, 20% & 30% BY VOLUME. WATER CEMENT RATIOS OF 0.42, 0.48 & 0.57 HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO ASSESS DIFFERENT PROPERTIES OF THE CONCRETE. HAVING THE MIX PROPORTION OF 1:1.5:3 (CEMENT: FINE AGGREGATE: COARSE AGGREGATE), COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, TENSILE STRENGTH & OTHER PROPERTIES OF THE CONCRETE CYLINDERS HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AT 28 DAYS, FOR THREE REPLACEMENT RATIOS AS WELL AS THREE WATER CEMENT RATIOS TO COMPARE THEM WITH THE REGULAR CONCRETE (RC). THE RESULTS DEMONSTRATED THAT PP HAS BETTER BONDING CAPACITY THAN BRICK CHIPS, INCREASING THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH & TENSILE STRENGTH OF THE POLYPROPYLENE COARSE AGGREGATE CONCRETE (PCA CONCRETE). THUS, THIS LOW DENSITY CONCRETE CAN BE USED FOR THE STRUCTURAL PURPOSES.