Performance of polymer bricks produced with plastic waste

The need to address the adverse effect of plastic waste on the environment as well as the increasing housing deficit in developing countries prompted this study. This paper reports the application of melted waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles as a binder for the production of polymer bricks. Melted waste PET bottle resin and natural sand were mixed at 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, and 1:8 PET/sand ratios by mass, and the mixture was cast in moulds to prepare the polymer bricks. The physicomechanical properties of the polymer bricks were examined for suitability of use as an alternative masonry unit. The study found that the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Poisson’s ratio of polymer bricks increased with sand content up to 1: 4 PET/sand ratio with values of 17.96 N/mm2, 9.01 N/mm2, and 0.34, respectively. The elastic modulus-to-compressive strength ratio reveals that polymer bricks produced with 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 PET/sand ratios satisfied minimum requirement. Minimum sand content of 75 wt% is essential for substantial splitting tensile strength performance, and the maximum water absorption is 4.42% obtained for polymer bricks produced with 1:8 PET/sand ratios. Low sorptivity values of zero to 1.76 × 10−3 kg/(m2h0.5) were found, implying that polymer bricks could be used as a damp proof course.