Cementless building materials made from recycled plastic and sand/glass: a review and road map for the future

Jude Shalitha Perera; Priyan Mendis; Shanka Kristombu  Baduge; Mahak Hashemi

doi:10.56748/ejse.223773

Authors

Jude Shalitha Perera University of Melbourne https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1432-8851
Priyan Mendis University of Melbourne
Shanaka Kristombu Baduge University of Melbourne
Mahak Hashemi RMIT University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56748/ejse.223773

Keywords:

Composite, Waste recycling, Plastic, Circular Economy, Sustainability, Cementless Building Material, Net Zero Carbon

Abstract

Plastic and glass can be sorted using machines and recycled into new plastic and glass, as opposed to producing them from raw materials. However, contaminated plastic and glass, as well as certain types of plastic and glass, cannot be recycled using traditional methods and must be disposed of in landfill. Researchers have been looking into this and have tried a variety of solutions to convert this waste into functional products. The development of composite construction materials, based on these two materials was identified as a worthy solution. On the other hand, carbon dioxide is emitted during the cement manufacturing process and the use of that cement in the production of construction materials contributes 7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, plastic sand/glass composite is environmentally friendly in two ways. It reduces landfill while also replacing the equivalent concrete product, lowering CO₂ emissions. This paper examines the literature on the development of such materials, including technology, challenges, quality, and properties. At the raw material selection stage, the effect of sand grain sizes, gradation, plastic type, plastic mix, impurities, pre-processing, and cleaning was investigated. At the material processing stage, the filler to binder ratio, mixing temperatures, mixing methodology, and compaction were all examined. It was identified plastic type and a mix of plastic, as well as impurities did not affect the density or strength of the composite significantly. Also, the compressive strength of the composite products manufactured in the considered studies is comparable to C20/25 concrete.

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