Durability of Mortars Made with Recycled Plastic Aggregates: Resistance to Frost Action, Salt Crystallization, and Cyclic Thermal–Moisture Variations
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 2
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the use of polymeric end-of-waste materials, including polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and other plastic types that have not been comprehensively studied to date, namely, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), ABS/PC blend, and polyoxymethylene (POM), to improve the durability of cement mortars. The evaluation of freeze-thaw and salt-crystallization resistance and endurance to cyclic changes in moisture and temperature for plastic aggregate (PA) mortars was carried out by measuring mass loss, compressive strength loss, and macroscopic damage following accelerated weathering testing. The PA mortars were prepared by replacing natural sand (5%, 15%, and 20% by volume) with PAs. The results show that PA mortars are more susceptible to thermal/moisture variations and salt crystallization than to frost action, with 4%–7% mass loss and up to a 31% reduction in strength. The damage caused by frost action is insignificant for plastic aggregate mortars, especially at low replacement levels. The damage to mortars done by salt attacks and moisture/thermal changes could be due to the dimensional instability of the PAs because their thermal expansion coefficients are well over those of the minerals with which they are mixed. The compressive strength of the PA mortars, even after weathering, is well above the minimum strength required for structural lightweight concrete.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, which led to the successful completion of this research. The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to the chief technician and the technical staff in the Department of Civil Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, in particular, Mark Gilligan for helping in the experimental work. The authors would also like to thank N. Skeffington, Wellman Int. Ltd. and G. McGovern, Polyfab Plastics Ltd. for providing recycled plastic samples for investigation.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 2 • February 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 3, 2020
Accepted: Jul 20, 2020
Published online: Nov 24, 2020
Published in print: Feb 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Apr 24, 2021
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