The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing
Concrete contributes 8% of all global carbon emissions, making the need to find substitutes critical for environmental sustainability. Research has indicated the potential for recycled plastics to be used as concrete substitutes. This study extends existing research by investigating the use of polyc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Composites Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/7/6/249 |
| _version_ | 1797594070578626560 |
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| author | Morgan C. Woods Apoorv Kulkarni Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_facet | Morgan C. Woods Apoorv Kulkarni Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_sort | Morgan C. Woods |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Concrete contributes 8% of all global carbon emissions, making the need to find substitutes critical for environmental sustainability. Research has indicated the potential for recycled plastics to be used as concrete substitutes. This study extends existing research by investigating the use of polycarbonate (PC) in plastic sand bricks as a mechanical equivalent to concrete. PC has high compressive strength, durability, impact strength, thermal resistivity, clarity, fatigue resistance, and UV resistance. This work provides a method and mold to produce a matrix of sand–plastic sample compositions with dimensions adhering to the ASTM D695 standard for compressive properties of rigid plastic. Compositions of 0% (control), 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% sand by weight were tested. Samples were tested for compressive strength until yield and stress–strain behaviors were plotted. The results for 100% PC demonstrated an average and maximum compressive strength of 71 MPa and 72 MPa, respectively. The 50% PC and 50% sand composition yielded an average and maximum compressive strength of 71 MPa and 73 MPa, respectively, with an increase in compressive stiffness and transition to shear failure resembling concrete. With a composite density of 1.86 g/cm<sup>3</sup> compared to concrete’s average of 2.4 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, and a compressive strength exceeding commercial concrete demands of 23.3 MPa to 30.2 MPa, this lightweight alternative meets the strength demands of concrete, reduces the need for new construction materials, and provides an additional recycling opportunity for nonbiodegradable waste plastic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:18:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-897493f8a48549ae92654333ba415604 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-477X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:18:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Composites Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-897493f8a48549ae92654333ba4156042023-11-18T11:02:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Composites Science2504-477X2023-06-017624910.3390/jcs7060249The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength TestingMorgan C. Woods0Apoorv Kulkarni1Joshua M. Pearce2Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON N6A 3K7, CanadaDepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON N6A 3K7, CanadaIvey School of Business, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON N6A 3K7, CanadaConcrete contributes 8% of all global carbon emissions, making the need to find substitutes critical for environmental sustainability. Research has indicated the potential for recycled plastics to be used as concrete substitutes. This study extends existing research by investigating the use of polycarbonate (PC) in plastic sand bricks as a mechanical equivalent to concrete. PC has high compressive strength, durability, impact strength, thermal resistivity, clarity, fatigue resistance, and UV resistance. This work provides a method and mold to produce a matrix of sand–plastic sample compositions with dimensions adhering to the ASTM D695 standard for compressive properties of rigid plastic. Compositions of 0% (control), 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% sand by weight were tested. Samples were tested for compressive strength until yield and stress–strain behaviors were plotted. The results for 100% PC demonstrated an average and maximum compressive strength of 71 MPa and 72 MPa, respectively. The 50% PC and 50% sand composition yielded an average and maximum compressive strength of 71 MPa and 73 MPa, respectively, with an increase in compressive stiffness and transition to shear failure resembling concrete. With a composite density of 1.86 g/cm<sup>3</sup> compared to concrete’s average of 2.4 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, and a compressive strength exceeding commercial concrete demands of 23.3 MPa to 30.2 MPa, this lightweight alternative meets the strength demands of concrete, reduces the need for new construction materials, and provides an additional recycling opportunity for nonbiodegradable waste plastic.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/7/6/249waste plastic compositespoly carbonatepolycarbonate compositesandplastic and sand compositesplastic sand bricks |
| spellingShingle | Morgan C. Woods Apoorv Kulkarni Joshua M. Pearce The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing Journal of Composites Science waste plastic composites poly carbonate polycarbonate composite sand plastic and sand composites plastic sand bricks |
| title | The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing |
| title_full | The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing |
| title_fullStr | The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing |
| title_short | The Potential of Replacing Concrete with Sand and Recycled Polycarbonate Composites: Compressive Strength Testing |
| title_sort | potential of replacing concrete with sand and recycled polycarbonate composites compressive strength testing |
| topic | waste plastic composites poly carbonate polycarbonate composite sand plastic and sand composites plastic sand bricks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/7/6/249 |
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