The Study of Workability and Compressive Strength of Concrete with Polypropylene Plastic as Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates

Various studies have explored incorporating different types of plastics, such as PET bottles andPVC pipes, into concrete through methods including powder and fiber integration. This particularinvestigation aims to assess the impact of substituting polypropylene plastic, commonly found inpackaging and daily-use plastics, in concrete at concentrations of 0%, 25%, and 35%. The polypropyleneplastics were cut into sizes ranging from 2mm to 5mm. Samples were molded into cylinders measuring4x8 inches, with each batch yielding three specimens for compressive strength testing. The consistency ofeach sample batch was determined through slump tests, resulting in a high workability ranging from 7 to7.5 inches. The findings reveal a decrease in compressive strength of approximately 60% for batch 2samples (25% polypropylene plastics) and 70% for batch 3 samples (35% polypropylene plastics)compared to batch 1 (0% polypropylene plastics). Consequently, the incorporation of plastics into concreteleads to property alterations, with water absorption showing a slight decrease alongside an inverserelationship between compressive strength and the proportion of polypropylene plastics. Significantdisparities in compressive strength were noted across batches, with the first batch boasting robust strengthsuitable for critical structural elements. Conversely, the second and third batches, with lower strengths,were deemed more fitting for less demanding applications like driveways and walkways.