Converting construction waste and low-density polyethylene into composite materials

To achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly materials while reducing the risks of solid waste, particularly construction waste and plastic waste, this study explores the production of two composite materials. Material 1 utilizes only Red Brick Waste (RBW), while Material 2, comprising Construction Waste (CW) consists of 20% bricks, 20% red bricks, 25% concrete, 25% sand, and 10% dirt. The adhesive employed to bind these solid wastes is recycled Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), ranging from 10% to 30%. The study employs hot molding with pressure to fabricate samples and conducts mechanical tests. Results reveal that increasing LDPE percentage enhances flexibility, shock resistance, and lifespan, while reducing the density and hardness of both materials. Material 2 (CW), with a composition of 30% adhesive and 70% of the filling material, demonstrated optimal results: density of 1.525 g/cm 3 , modulus of elasticity 943.83 MPs, tensile strength of 2.596 MPs, impact strength of 3.701 J/mm 2 , bending strength of 12.726 MPs, and hardness of 101.5HRC. Additionally, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, three predictive models were trained (Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and XGBoost Regressor (XGBR)) and updated to deliver accurate outcomes based on preliminary hypotheses. This approach offers a promising method for advancing our understanding of the work. • Developed sustainable composites from (RBW) and mixed (CW) using recycled (LDPE) as a binder. • Results shows improved mechanical performance of CW composites, at 30% LDPE content. • Successfully applied artificial intelligence to predict mechanical properties accurately, enabling efficient design of waste-derived composites.

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Publication Details

Journal
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Published
2025-10-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05447
Primary Topic
Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Converting construction waste and low-density polyethylene into composite materials

Mohammed Salah Bennouna, Ahlem Guesmi, Hacène Mahmoudi, Lotfi Khezami et al.
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
article

Converting construction waste and low-density polyethylene into composite materials

Mohammed Salah Bennouna, Ahlem Guesmi, Hacène Mahmoudi, Lotfi Khezami, Mamoun Fellah
article en

Abstract

To achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly materials while reducing the risks of solid waste, particularly construction waste and plastic waste, this study explores the production of two composite materials. Material 1 utilizes only Red Brick Waste (RBW), while Material 2, comprising Construction Waste (CW) consists of 20% bricks, 20% red bricks, 25% concrete, 25% sand, and 10% dirt. The adhesive employed to bind these solid wastes is recycled Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), ranging from 10% to 30%. The study employs hot molding with pressure to fabricate samples and conducts mechanical tests. Results reveal that increasing LDPE percentage enhances flexibility, shock resistance, and lifespan, while reducing the density and hardness of both materials. Material 2 (CW), with a composition of 30% adhesive and 70% of the filling material, demonstrated optimal results: density of 1.525 g/cm 3 , modulus of elasticity 943.83 MPs, tensile strength of 2.596 MPs, impact strength of 3.701 J/mm 2 , bending strength of 12.726 MPs, and hardness of 101.5HRC. Additionally, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, three predictive models were trained (Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and XGBoost Regressor (XGBR)) and updated to deliver accurate outcomes based on preliminary hypotheses. This approach offers a promising method for advancing our understanding of the work. • Developed sustainable composites from (RBW) and mixed (CW) using recycled (LDPE) as a binder. • Results shows improved mechanical performance of CW composites, at 30% LDPE content. • Successfully applied artificial intelligence to predict mechanical properties accurately, enabling efficient design of waste-derived composites.

Case Studies in Construction MaterialsVol. 23
University of Ouargla (DZ), Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (SA), Abbès Laghrour University of Khenchela (DZ)
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
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