Utilization of Different Types of Plastics in Concrete Mixtures

Incorporation of plastic waste into concrete mitigates harm to the environment through encapsulation of plastics in concrete. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the effects of using six commonly used plastic materials (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS)) in cement paste and mortar mixtures. The heat of hydration investigations revealed that plastic powders did not significantly affect rates or extents of hydration. Among the different types of plastic-aggregate mortars, PET performed the worst, while PS was the best. Fractures in the samples generally occurred due to debonding between the plastic particles and the cement matrix. Plastic particle shape influences the microstructure of the interfacial transition zone and consequently affects the overall strength of the mortar.