Utilization of Waste LDPE as Binder in Concrete Paver Blocks: An Experimental Study

Waste plastic is a growing share of municipal solid waste, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is among its largest components. This paper reports an experimental study on concrete paver blocks in which melted LDPE waste is used as the binder in place of cement, with sand as the filler. The specific gravity of the sand, found from two pycnometer trials, averaged 1.89. Three blocks of the mix designated plastic (10% of cement) were tested in compression and failed at 589, 547 and 537 kN, giving compressive strengths of 26.17, 24.30 and 23.86 N/mm² and a mean of 24.77 N/mm². Because the plastic sets on cooling, the blocks need no water curing. The study shows that sand–LDPE blocks can reach compressive strengths in the range of 24–26 N/mm², and it points to the tests still needed before such blocks are recommended for a given traffic category.