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.
Authors
- Mohammed Salah Bennouna
- Ahlem Guesmi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7552-4146)
- Hacène Mahmoudi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2950-8513)
- Lotfi Khezami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5747-3114)
- Mamoun Fellah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0615-6711)
Institutions
- University of Ouargla (DZ)
- Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (SA)
- Abbès Laghrour University of Khenchela (DZ)
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
- 0.00