Laboratory Investigations of the Properties of Concrete Containing Recycled Plastic Aggregates

Abstract

Solid waste management is one of the major environmental concerns in our country now a days. The present study covers the use or recycled plastics as replacement of coarse aggregates in concrete. The main aim of the study is to investigate the change in mechanical properties of concrete with the addition of plastics in concrete. Along with the mechanical properties, thermal characteristics of the resultant concrete is also studied

It is found that the use of plastic aggregates results in the formation of lightweight concrete. The compressive, as well as tensile strength of concrete reduces with the introduction of plastics. The most important change brought about by the use of plastics is that the thermal conductivity of concrete is reduced by using plastics in concrete. Therefore, it can be said that recycled plastics can be used for thermal insulation of buildings.