Energy performance of construction materials using waste recycled polymer as fine aggregate replacement

Abstract

Plastic has become an essential part of our modern lifestyle and its global diffusion has led to a significant increase in the production of related waste, with obvious repercussions on the environment and on the entire sustainability chain. Recycling this kind of materials in the field of civil and industrial engineering is considered an ecological and economical solution due to the advantages it can offer. This paper represents the results of experimental investigations of mechanical strength, hygro-thermal and durability properties of two kinds of products: urban tiles (90 % PVC powder and 10 % polyurethane resin) and cement-based mortars reinforced with PVC compound coming out of electric cable protective sheath. The manufactured mortars were obtained by the volumetric substitution of the sand with five different percentages of plastic waste, from 10 % to 50 %. Plastic aggregates reduce density, causing a decrease in flexural and compressive strength of mortars. Nevertheless, the presence of plastic aggregate leads to a significant improvement of thermal insulation and shows a greater resistance to capillary water absorption compared to the reference one. The mechanical tests after two different cycles of accelerated solar aging of urban tiles demonstrated the feasibility of its use for external flooring (green parking). These results foster future studies about the development of increasingly eco-sustainable building materials.