Effect of Adding Waste Polyethylene and GGBFS on the Engineering Properties of Cement Mortar

Abstract

The recycling of waste materials has become an important topic worldwide. Wastes can be effectively used in concrete to improve its characteristics. This study aimed to research cement mortar’s physical properties, mechanical properties, and durability. In a cement mortar with a fixed water-to-binder ratio (W/B) of 0.5, waste polyethylene (PE) was added at sand volume ratios of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. Cement was replaced with 0%, 10%, and 20% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The results showed that the slump and flow of mortar tended to decline as the added amount of waste PE increased, but they also increased with the increased replaced amount of GGBFS. The setting time of mortar was shortened as the waste PE increased but delayed as the amount of GGBFS increased. In terms of mechanical properties, the compressive strength of mortar declined as the replaced amount of waste PE increased. Using the GGBFS to replace part of the cement can improve the later mortar strength. This study found that when the added waste PE was within 2% and the replacement amount of GGBFS was 10%, the goal of recycling waste was reached most effectively, while maintaining the concrete’s mechanical properties.

Sustainable Design of Self-Consolidating Green Concrete with Partial Replacements for Cement through Neural-Network and Fuzzy Technique

“…Several studies indicate that the growth of compressive strength can be accelerated by 2.5-10% replacement of micro-silica [4,5,31]. Moreover, as per the findings of Chang et al [63], when the replacement of GGBFS grew from 0% to 20%, GGBFS generated a pozzolanic response that raised the compactness of the sample's interior body over that of the control group. The resistivity was greater when 20% GGBFS was introduced late in the time, followed by the 10% GGBFS group.…”

An Extended Special Issue on Advances in High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

“…In addition, its deformation and flexural toughness ratios were 23 times and 1.43 times higher than those of the fiber-free specimens, respectively. Hung et al [4] investigated the effects of added waste polyethylene and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) on the engineering properties of cement mortar. Under the condition of a fixed water-binder ratio of 0.5, different amounts of PE (sand volume ratio of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and GGBFS (0%, 10%, and 20% substituted cement) were used to prepare specimens.…”