Assessment of the mechanical and physical characteristics of PET bricks with different aggregates

Abstract

Co nstru ction an d demolition waste, alon g with di scarded PE T plasti c bo ttles , have evolve d into a widespread global resource . Ho wever , thei r cu rrent di sposa l in landfill s pose s a si gni ficant enviro nme nta l po llution chal - lenge. This research is ce ntere d on eval uatin g th e pe rfo rmanc e of cement mo rta r co mpose d by larger PE T pa rti - cles in co njunction with sand , co nstru ction an d demolition waste, an d ligh tweight expanded polystyren e aggr e - gates. Th e pr imary obje ctive of this stud y is to fo rmulate a blen d suitable fo r no n -structural el ement s that ca n be ea sil y ma n ufa cture d fo r social housin g co nstru ction . This mo d ified blen d extend s upon th e orig ina l ce rtified mi x - ture employed at CEVE fo r bric k pr odu ction , whic h enco mpasses cement an d 3 mm -long PE T pa rticles . Th e ex - pe r ime nta l anal ysi s revealed that blen d co ntainin g 8 mm -long PE T pa rticles , in co mbination with fine aggr egate s of co nstru ction an d demolition waste, attained a required mechan ica l strength of 2 MPa, whil e pr eservin g th e bulk de nsity an d hydric properties of th e in itial PE T bricks deve loped at CEVE in Argentina.