Recycled Plastic Waste in Structural Concrete: Performance Assessment and Pathways for Sustainable Construction
Keywords:
highlighting, construction, aggregates, conventionalAbstract
Plastic waste is one of the most persistent environmental pollutants worldwide, with an annual global production exceeding 390 million tons. Incorporating recycled plastic into concrete offers a dual benefit—reducing plastic pollution and conserving natural aggregates. This paper presents a comprehensive review and experimental synthesis of the mechanical, durability, thermal, and workability properties of concrete mixes containing 0–20% recycled plastic aggregates by weight of fine or coarse aggregate. Laboratory results reveal that while compressive strength decreases from 42 MPa (0% plastic) to 29 MPa (20% plastic), flexural strength improves from 5.1 MPa to 7.4 MPa at similar replacement levels. Durability performance shows significant gains: chloride penetration depth is reduced by 38%, carbonation depth decreases by 32%, and freeze–thaw weight loss drops by 40% compared to conventional concrete. Plastic-modified mixes also exhibit a 35% lower thermal conductivity, enhancing energy efficiency in building envelopes. These findings underscore the potential of recycled plastic as a sustainable construction material, while highlighting the need for long-term leaching studies, mix optimization, and codified testing standards before large-scale deployment.
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