Reinforcement of cement mortar with recycled polyethylene waste for construction applications

Moses K. Flomo, Salifu T. Azeko, Emmanuel K. Arthur, Jamal Deen Kukurah, Kabiru Mustapha, Ebenezer Annan, Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This current research work combines both experimental and theoretical study of the impact of cement mortar reinforced with recycled polyethylene waste for applications in the construction industry. The work explores incorporating low density polyethylene (LDPE) waste into cement mortar to improve its fracture toughness and flexural strength with balanced compressive strength. Different volume fractions (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40%) of the powdered LDPE were mixed with cement and the density, compressive strength, flexural strength, and the fracture toughness were observed under different testing conditions. All specimens were tested after curing of 7, 14, and 28 days. The results show that there was (Formula presented.) 6% increase in the fracture toughness at 5 vol. %, (Formula presented.) 7% increase at 10 vol. %, and 24% increases at 20 vol. % of LDPE. Also, it was observed that the weight and compressive strength decreased with increasing volume fraction up to 40 vol. % of LDPE waste. The results for the survival/failure probability show that the PE-mortar composites with PE volume percentages up to 20 vol. % had the highest survival probability. The composite with this volume percentage can withstand crack up to 6 mm, with a survival probability of 0.6.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2867-2875
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Composite Materials
Volume55
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep 2021

Keywords

  • Polyethylene
  • brittle fracture modelling
  • crack opening tip displacement
  • mechanical testing
  • survival/failure probability

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