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Utilization of Waste Plastics as a Fiber in Concrete

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 International Journal of Concrete Technology
Vol. 3: Issue 1
www.journalspub.com

Utilization of Waste Plastics as a Fiber in Concrete

A. Ananthi*, A. Jay Tamil Eniyan, S. Venkatesh
J. J. College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT
The rapid urbanization and industrialization all over the world has resulted in large
deposition of plastic waste. Disposal of plastic waste in an environment is considered to be
big hazard due to its very low biodegradability and presence in large quantities. In order to
minimize the problem, the proposed concrete which is made by adding plastics in concrete
may help to reuse the plastics and to study the properties of concrete with plastics. In our
project, we used plastic cups as a fiber with mean aspect ratio 158.75 and 26.49. The result
proved that the addition of concrete increases the compressive strength and split strength.
Hence plastics can be added as fiber to enhance the properties of concrete.

Keywords: M20, plastic fiber reinforced cement, PPC, slump

*Corresponding Author
E-mail address: ananthi.sivane@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION M20 mix with addition of polythene fibers

Concrete is a versatile material for civil
engineering construction. It has many
advantages properties such as good
compressive strength, durability, specific
gravity and fire resistance. Concrete is a
composite material composed of coarse
aggregate bonded together with fluid
cement which hardens over time. Plastic
fiber reinforced concrete (PFRC) is a type
of special concrete in which various types
of plastics are added or replaced with the
constituents of concrete. This has been
done in order to reduce the disposal of
plastics and for effective utilization of
waste plastics that are hazardous to
environment. This study attempts to give a
contribution to the effective use of
domestic wastes (plastics) in concrete as
fibers in order to prevent the
environmental strains caused by them, also
to limit the consumption of natural
resources [1, 2].
LITERATURE REVIEW
Kandasamy and Murugesan (2011)
conducted the experimental studies on a
(domestic waste plastics) at a dosage of
0.5% [3]. The cube compressive strength
of concrete increases to an extent of 0.68%
and 5.12% in 7 and 28 days, respectively.
The cylinder compressive strength of
concrete increases to an extent of 3.84% in
28 days. The split tensile strength of
concrete increases to an extent of 1.63% in
28 days [4–8].
Katte et al. [9] studied the partial
replacement of natural sand by plastics
with different percentage 0% to 50%. In
concrete, Natural sand can be replaced
with plastic waste by 10% to 20% to
achieve green concrete. Sand can also be
replaced up to 30% in the members of
building which do not carry high load.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Material Used
Cement
Portland Pozzolona Cement (PPC)
conforming to IS 1489-part 1 was used and
tested as per the Indian Standards IS 4031-

IJCT (2017) 1–5 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved Page 1

Utilization of Waste Plastics
1988. The properties of cement used are
tabulated in the Table 1.
Fine Aggregate
Fine aggregate conforms to the grading
curve zone II with specific gravity 2.6 and
fineness modulus 2.12 was thus obtained
as per IS 383-1970 specifications.
Table 1. Properties of cement.
S. no Property
1 Specific gravity
2 Normal consistency
Initial setting time
3 30 mins to 10 hours (confirming to 4031-1988 part 5)
Final setting time
4 Fineness of cement (by 90 micron sieve)
Preparation of Specimen
M20 grade concrete mix was prepared
based on the recommendation of IS 10262-
2009 Specifications. The ingredients for
the various mixes were weighed and
prepared the mixes by tilting drum type
concrete mixture machines. Precautions
were taken to ensure uniform mixing of
ingredients. The specimen was cast in steel
mold and compacted by a tamping rod.
The specimens of 150 mm × 150 mm ×
150 mm size of cubes and 150 mm
diameter × 300 mm high cylinder
specimens were prepared for the
determination of compressive strength and
split tensile strength at 7 days and 28 days
respectively. Curing of specimen was
started as soon as the top surface of the
concrete in the mold was stiff. To easily
identify the mixes, CC stands for
Conventional Concrete, PFRC-B concrete
cube with 0.3% of plastic fiber, PFRC-C
concrete cube with 0.6% of plastic fiber,
PFRC-D concrete cube with 0.9% of
plastic fiber, PFRC-E concrete cube with
1.2% of plastic fiber.
Plastic Fiber are prepared by, Plastic cups
with two different thickness 80 microns
and 480 microns were taken. The plastic
cups are hand cut to a mean length 12.7
IJCT (2017) 1–5 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
Ananthi et al.
Coarse Aggregate
20 mm nominal size with specific gravity
2.7 and water absorption 1.065%
conforming to IS: 383-1970 specifications
and tested as per IS 2386 standards [8–11].
Water
Portable water confirming to the
requirements of IS 456-2000
Specifications was used.
Result Permissible limit
2.8 2.9 (Confirming to IS 4031-1988 part11)
32% (Confirming to 4031-1988 part 4)
30 mins
600 mins
5% retained Not exceed 10%confirming to 4031-1988 part 3)
mm and mean breadth 2.8 mm. The plastic
cups with the mean ratio 158.75:26.49 are
used for this experiment [12–16].
Experimental Investigation
Compressive Strength Test
Compressive strength of HPFRC mixes
was tested using compression testing
machine of 3000 kN capacity as per IS:
516-1959 specifications. Fresh concrete
was filled in the steel molds of required
size and then vibrated for 3 minutes using
vibrating table for getting better
compaction and finish ability in concrete.
Concrete cubes of size 150 mm × 150 mm
× 150 mm were prepared and allowed to
dry for 24 hours and remolded from the
steel molds and tested for compression at 7
days and 28 days. The compressive
strength of the test specimens is
determined using the formula fc= P/A
where fc is the compressive strength of the
specimen in N/mm2, P is the maximum
load applied in kN and A is the cross-
sectional area of the specimen in mm2.
Split Tensile Strength Test
Cylindrical specimens of size 300 mm ×
150 mm were prepared using the steel
molds. The specimens were immersed in
curing tank after remolding. The test is
Page 2

carried out by placing horizontally the
cylindrical specimen between the loading
surfaces of a compression testing machine
as per IS 5816-1999 Standards. Split
tensile strength was calculated as
T=2P/πLD where P – Compressive load
(kN), T – Split tensile strength (N/mm2), L
– length of the cylinder (mm) and D –
diameter of the cylinder (mm).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Compressive Strength Test
Compressive strength test results of 7 days
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 14.52 N/mm2, concrete with 0.3% of
Plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
15.85 N/mm2, concrete with 0.6% of
Plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
19.04 N/mm2, concrete with 0.9% of
Plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
20.07 N/mm2, concrete with 1.2% of
6
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH(N/MM2)
0
CC A
Fig. 1. Compressive strength of cubes at 7 and 28 days.
Split Tensile Strength Test
Split Tensile strength test results of 7 days
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 2.1 N/mm2, concrete with 0.3% of
plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
2.52 N/mm2, concrete with 0.6% of plastic
fiber has attained higher strength of 2.87
N/mm2, concrete with 0.9% of plastic fiber
has attained higher strength of 3.36
N/mm2, concrete with 1.2% of plastic fiber
IJCT (2017) 1–5 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
International Journal of Concrete Technology
Vol. 3: Issue 1
www.journalspub.com
plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
15.55 N/mm2.
At 28 days testing of concrete,
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 20.15 N/mm2. Concrete with 0.3% of
plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
22.21 N/mm2, concrete with 0.6% of
plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
24.06 N/mm2, and concrete with 0.9% of
Plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
25.7 N/mm2, concrete with 1.2% of plastic
fiber has attained higher strength of 23.92
N/mm2. It is observed that maximum
compressive strength is obtained when
0.9% of plastic fibers are added to
concrete. From Figure 1, the compressive
strength increases to 40.3% and 28.5%
than conventional concrete at 7 and 28
days, respectively.
PFRC B PFRC C PFRC D PFRC E
TYPE OF CONCRETE
7 days 28 days
has attained higher strength of 2.73
N/mm2.
At 28 days testing of concrete,
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 3.4 N/mm2. Concrete with 0.3% of
plastic fiber has attained higher strength of
4.13 N/mm2, concrete with 0.6% of plastic
fiber has attained higher strength of 4.9
N/mm2, and concrete with 0.9% of plastic
Page 3
Utilization of Waste Plastics Ananthi et al.

fiber has attained higher strength of 5.59 From Figure 2, the compressive strength
N/mm2, concrete with 1.2% of plastic fiber increases to 54.8% and 54.4% than
has attained higher strength of 4.83 conventional concrete at 7 and 28 days,
N/mm2. It is observed that maximum respectively [6, 7].
tensile strength is obtained when 0.9% of
plastic fibers are added to concrete.

5
SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH(N/MM2)

0
CC A PFRC B PFRC C PFRC D PFRC E
TYPE OF CONCRETE

7 days 28 days

Fig. 2. Split tensile strength of cubes at 7 and 28 days.

CONCLUSION [2] M.L. Gambhir. Concrete Technology.

Based on the test result, the following 5th Edn., New Delhi: Tata McGraw
conclusions are made. Hill; 2013.
 The compressive strength and split [3] R. Kandasamy, R. Murugesan. Fibre
tensile strength increases to maximum reinforced concrete using waste
when 0.9% of plastic fiber are added to plastics and steel fibres, 2011; 6(3).
conventional concrete. [4] Khileshsarwe. Study of strength
 The compressive strength increases to property of concrete using waste
40.3% than conventional concrete at 7 plastics and steel fibre, 2014; 3(5).
days. [5] M.S. Shetty. Concrete Technology. 7th
 The compressive strength increases to Edn., New Delhi: S. Chand and
28.5% than conventional concrete at Company Limited.
28 days. [6] R.N. Nibudey, P.B. Nagarnaik, D.K.
 The split tensile strength increases to Parbat, A.M. Pande. Cube and cylinder
54.8% than conventional concrete at 7 compressive strengths of waste plastic
days. fibre reinforced concrete, 2013; 4(2).
 The split tensile strength increases to [7] R.N. Nibudey, P.B. Nagarnaik, D.K.
54.4% than conventional concrete at Parbat, A.M. Pande. Strength
28 days. prediction of plastic fibre reinforced
concrete, 2013; 3(1).
REFERENCES [8] M. Raghatate Atul. Use of plastic in a
[1] B. Rai, S. Tabin Rushad, B. Kr, S.K. concrete to improve its properties, E-
Duggal. ‘Study of waste plastic mix ISSN2249-8974.
concrete with plasticiser’, 2012; [9] V. Katte, A. Gangrude, A. Pawar.
Article ID 469272. Green concrete using plastic waste,
2015; 19(04).

IJCT (2017) 1–5 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved Page 4


[10]Y. Ghernouti, B. Rabehi, B. Safi, R.
Chaid. Use of recycled plastic bag
waste in the concrete, 2014; 08.
[11]IS 456-2000: Plain and Reinforced
concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards,
(BIS), New Delhi.
[12]IS 10262-2009: Recommended
guidelines for concrete mix design,
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS),
New Delhi.
[13]IS 516-1959: Methods of test for
strength of concrete, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
IJCT (2017) 1–5 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
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Vol. 3: Issue 1
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[14]IS 1542-1992: Sand for plaster –
Specification, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
[15]IS 1489 Part 1: Specification for
Portland Pozzolona Cement, Part 1:
Fly ash based, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
[16]IS 383-1970: Specification for coarse
and fine aggregates from natural
sources for concrete, Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
Page 5