Chapter One

1.1 Introduction to plastics

The term "plastic", derived from the Greek word "plastikos" actually applies to any pliable
substance that can be shaped or molded, for example, wax, clay, asphalt and amber.
Most of the plastics we use today have been developed within the last 50 years or so. The majority
of them are man-made and are usually described as synthetic products, or in other words, they are
made by a process of building up from simple chemical substances.
Today's plastics are generally made by industrial chemists from various chemical compounds
derived from lime, salt, water, petroleum or coal. Their special properties are light weight; high
impact and tensile strengths; resistance to corrosion, salt water and most chemicals; suitability for
use over a wide range of temperatures and for electrical insulation. Some plastics are not fully
synthetic as they are produced simply by modifying natural materials. Examples are celluloid and
cellulose acetate, both derived from cellulose (as in cotton wool) and plastics derived from casein,
a complex protein which comes from cow's milk
Plastic is light, easy to store and transport, comes in an endless variety of textures and shapes, and
can hold almost anything. These properties make plastic attractive to manufacturers. Plastic is in
almost everything we touch. It’s used to make our clothes, cars, toys, and household products.
Many of the food, health, and beauty products we enjoy come in plastic packaging.
Plastic may be convenient for manufacturers and consumers alike, but this convenience carries a
significant cost. Plastic is made from petroleum and the production, consumption, and disposal of
petroleum products contribute significantly to global warming and a host of other environmental
and human health problems.

Plastics are complex chemical compounds with thousands of different varieties, and therefore
much more difficult to recycle than simpler materials like glass, aluminum, or paper. In order for
plastic to be recycled, it must be collected, sorted by exact type, kept clean, processed, and
delivered to a manufacturer that has the intention and capacity to use the material to make a new
product.

Plastic bottles have specific manufacturing and performance advantages over other packaging
materials like aluminum, steel and glass that have helped plastics expand their market share of
packaging materials. Without question, plastic bottles have come a long way since their first
commercial uses in the late 1940’s. The introduction of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers expanded plastic bottling applications. Plastics then
surpassed glass as the go-to packaging choice for a wide array of products and brands. The
importance of plastic bottles is unquestioned.

However, while plastics are “the workhorse material of the modern economy,” the material has
drawbacks. After use almost all plastic bottles become litter generating significant economic costs
(and losses) while negatively impacting natural systems like the oceans and contributing to
unsightly litter that can negatively affect tourism. They also play the main role in affecting the
environmental hygiene and soil fertility. Thy are also causes of air pollution when burnt since they
are complex chemical compounds.

Plastic bottles and jars represent approximately 75 percent of all plastic containers, by weight.
While PET and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) represent approximately 86 percent of the
plastic container market and are able to serve the bottling needs of most products on the market
today, other types of plastics, including bioplastics and recycled plastics, are used for
a wide range of bottling and packaging needs in a variety of industries, and are recyclable.

1.2 Types of plastics

There are different ways and bases to classify plastics. These ways can vary from literatures to
literatures. Based on the Plastics Industry Association, there are six basic types of plastics. These
are:

 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE, PETG or polyester)

It is commonly used for carbonated beverages, water bottles and many food products like peanut
butter, jelly jars, and cooking oils. PET provides strong impact resistance and tensile strength.
PETG, one form of PET, offers greater design freedoms than standard PETE, such as the ability to
add handles to orange juice jugs. PET packaging has excellent barrier properties and also offers
crystal clear transparency so consumers can see the product.

 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

It is used for kitchen, bath and laundry bottles, as well as other consumer goods. HDPE is
economical and impact resistant, and provides a good moisture barrier. HDPE is compatible with
a wide range of products including acids and caustics but is not compatible with solvents. It can
be used for bottle caps, milk jugs, grocery bags, shampoo bottles, yogurt tubs, detergent bottles,
hard hats, backpack frames, hula hoops, etc. HDPE is naturally translucent and flexible. The
addition of color will make HDPE opaque, but not glossy.

 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

It is naturally clear plastic that is extremely resistant to oils and chemicals and most often used in
the toiletry and cosmetic market. It provides an excellent barrier to most gases and its drop impact
resistance is also very good.

 Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

It is similar to HDPE in composition, but is less rigid and less chemically resistant than HDPE.
LDPE is used primarily for squeeze bottles (ketchup/mustard) as well as food storage containers,
film/ shrink wrap, and bags (produce, grocery, trash, dry cleaning and bread). LDPE is a versatile
and impact resistant and reusable plastic that is generally more expensive than HDPE. Despite
specific initiatives to increase recycling, its recycling rate is less that PET and HDPE.

 Polypropylene (PP)
It is used primarily for jars, medicine bottles and closures, and provides a rigid package with
excellent moisture barrier. PP is durable and versatile.
  Polystyrene (PS)
Offers excellent clarity and stiffness—glass-like quality—at an economical cost. It is commonly
used with dry products including vitamins, petroleum jellies and spices.

 Other Resins, like polycarbonate (PC)

Are found in plastics bottles. PC is a clear plastics used to make stiff, reusable personal water
bottles. PC is recycled with a variety of plastic resins not identified by codes.

Table 1- Resin Identification Codes (RICs)

1.3 History of plastics
Most of the basic materials from which we make the implements used in everyday life have been
known from the earliest times. They include wood, stone, metals, glass, clay, ceramics, animal
skins and vegetable fibers. But while some of these materials occur naturally, others, like metal
and glass, are converted from raw materials by some form of chemical process.
Similarly, although plastics as we know them are essentially products of this century, plastics in
their naturally occurring forms have also been used for thousands of years, ever since man first
began to make bowls, utensils and bricks of clay, and waterproof his sailing vessels with asphalt.
One of the very first experiments with synthetic plastics took place about 1835 when the French
chemist, Regnault, caused a chemical called vinyl chloride to turn into white powder. This was the
very earliest form of polyvinyl chloride, which we know as PVC, but it was not commercially
developed for almost another century. There were many other plastics, the development of which
was delayed for equally long periods. The main reason for this delay was that until well into the
20th century, it was impossible to obtain sufficient quantities of the necessary raw materials to
make chemicals for the new products.
It was in 1862 that the first synthetic plastic material was introduced to the public. It was shown
at the Great International Exhibition, London, by Alexander Parkes. The new product was then
called "Parkesine" and had been made by mixing camphor (the chemical used in mothballs) with
nitrocellulose (used in many modern lacquers for motor car bodies).
However, the same discovery was made some years later by an American, John Hyatt who
christened the new material "celluloid". His incentive was a prize from a billiard ball maker to find
a substitute for ivory. What he discovered, celluloid, made lousy billiard balls, but great table
tennis balls. He did not win the prize. Celluloid enabled the movie industry to boom, for it was the
first material which could be imprinted with an image, and yet be flexible enough to feed through
a movie projector. It had a serious drawback however, and that was its flammability, the reason
many old theatres went up in flames. Along with other cellulose nitrates, celluloid was also used
to make, denture plates, shirt collars and cuffs, and car windows.
Gradually, appreciation of the uses of the results of scientific research increased as did people's
need for more goods, and of course more chemicals, steel and power to make them. Laboratories,
regarded for so long as eccentric curiosities, were at last recognized as being useful to society. It
was also realized that many new chemicals could be produced from what was merely waste residue
from other industrial processes.
It was this change in people's attitudes towards science and manufacturing that really paved the
way for the development of plastics on a commercial scale.
In 1909 came the next major advance with the introduction of phenol-formaldehyde, more
commonly known as "Bakelite" after its discoverer, Dr. Leo Henrik Baekeland, a Belgian working
in the United States.
The tempo of plastics development accelerated rapidly from this time onwards. Each decade saw
the introduction of several new varieties of plastics:
1920-21 urea-formaldehyde and the vinyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
1931-40 the acrylics, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), nylon, polystyrene, melamine formaldehyde;
1941-50 polyesters, polyethylene (polythene), silicones, epoxy, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene
(ABS);
1951-60 polyurethane, polypropylene.
Since 1960 many new and more specialized plastics have been developed and the list continues to
grow, until today there are many different "families" of plastics, each with numerous members.

1.3.1 A plastics timeline

1712 John O’Brisset molds snuff boxes from horn.
1823 Macintosh uses rubber gum to waterproof cotton and the ‘mac’ is born.
1839 First deliberate chemical modification of a natural polymer produces vulcanized rubber.
1851 Gutta percha used to insulate submarine telegraph cables between England and France.
1854 Shellac mixed with wood flour patented in USA as molding material for making ‘union
cases’, protective frames for daguerreotypes and ambrotypes - early forms of photographs on glass.
1855 Soccer ball with vulcanized rubber panels, glued at the seams, designed and produced by
Charles Goodyear.
1861-87 Queen Victoria’s mourning for the Prince Consort fuels the production of imitation jet
mourning jewelry in such materials as cellulose nitrate, hard rubber and horn.
1862 A range of toiletry and household objects, some imitating the appearance of tortoiseshell and
ivory, made of an early form of cellulose nitrate, is displayed at the International Exhibition in
London. The material was called Parkesine after its inventor Alexander Parkes. Ultimately
Parkesine fails as a commercial venture.
1870 In USA Hyatt brothers in search of substitute material for ivory billiard balls turn cellulose
nitrate into a commercially viable material. Dental palates are one of their good sellers. They
register the name ‘Celluloid’ for their material in 1873.
1884 Cellulose nitrate modified to make artificial silk, called Chardon net silk.
1889 Dunlop Rubber Company founded and motor industry revolutionized.
1888 First commercially successful celluloid (cellulose nitrate) photographic film introduced by
George Eastman Kodak.
1890 Thermoforming introduced and used to make babies’ rattles from cellulose nitrate.
1892 Cellulose acetate modified to make a form of artificial silk, called viscose. By 1904 this was
known as rayon.
1898 Beginning of mass-production of 78 rpm gramophone records from shellac, for which it
remains the most common material until the 1940s.
1899 Casein formaldehyde patented as Galalith in Germany.
1905 Laminated safety glass, first with gelatin but then with cellulose nitrate inter-layer
introduced.
1907 First synthetic (lab made) plastic, phenol formaldehyde, better known as Bakelite, later
known as ‘the material of a 1000 uses’ introduced.
1910 Viscose stockings begin to be manufactured.
1913 Formica invented.
1915 Queen Mary orders casein jewelry at the British Industries Fair.
1916 Rolls Royce boasts about use of phenol formaldehyde in its car interiors.
1920 Hermann Staudinger publishes his realization that plastics are made up of polymers. Only in
1953 was the value of his work properly recognized when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Chemistry.
1926 Harrods, the London store, mounts a display of Beetle products, made from a form of
thiourea-urea formaldehyde. It is a huge success. National Grid for electricity is established,
fueling the desire for consumer goods that plug in and switch on, often with plastic housings.
1929 Bakelite Ltd receives its largest ever order of phenol formaldehyde for the manufacture of
the casing of the Siemens Neophone Number 162 telephone.
1930 Scotch Tape, the first transparent (see cellulose acetate) sticky tape, invented.
1933 The British Plastics Federation, the oldest national organization in the world with plastics in
its name, is set up.
1935 Couturier, Elsa Schiaparelli, begins to use zips made of cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate
in her garments.
1936 Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) canopies used in Spitfire fighter planes. From 1940 it
becomes the most widely used material for aircraft glazing.

1938 First toothbrush with plastic tufts manufactured. The tufts were made of nylon (polyamide).
Introduction of plastic contact lenses. The lenses were made of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate).
1939 First polythene factory opens in Britain. Polythene plays a crucial role in the insulation of
British radar cables during World War II. The entire production is for military use. Plastic Man, a
fictional comic-book hero, first appears.
1945 The end of the war releases a range of plastics developed to support the war effort on the
commercial market looking for uses.
1947 First acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) paint (dissolved in turpentine) becomes available.
Appreciated by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein for its intensity and rapid drying properties.
Tupperware, with flexible seals made possible by the invention of polythene, patented in the USA.
1948 Introduction of long playing vinyl copolymer gramophone records
1949 Charles and Ray Eames glass reinforced plastic shell chair showed that plastic could be more
than a furniture covering or veneering material. First Air fix self-assembly model produced. It was
made of polystyrene. Kartell, the Italian firm associated with plastic objects of desire for the home,
founded.
1950 Silly Putty, made from silicon, launched at the New York Toy Fair. Early 1950s The
ubiquitous polythene bag makes its first appearance.
1951 First polythene bottle made by Sqezy.
1953 Commercialization of polyester fiber introduces the concept of ‘wash and wear’ for fabrics.
Chevrolet Corvette, the first mass-produced car with a glass reinforced plastic chassis, begins
manufacture.
1954 Synthesis of polypropylene.
1956 Reliant Regal 111, first commercially successful all glass reinforced plastic bodied car, goes
on sale. Eero Saarinen’s Tulip chair, the seat consisting of a glass reinforced plastic molded shell,
launched.
1957 Invention of polyacetal, the first ‘engineering’ plastic. The Monsanto Company’s House of
the Future with 100% plastic structural parts built at the entrance to Disneyland’s Tomorrow land.
Polyvinyl chloride road cones used in the construction of the M1 motorway.
1958 Invention of the silicon chip. American Express launches first plastic credit card in US. Lego
decides to concentrate exclusively on plastic toys and patents its stud-and-block coupling system.
Originally made of cellulose acetate, it has been made of ABS (acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene)
since1963.
1959 Birth of the Barbie doll, made mainly of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and the Lycra (copolymer
of polyurethane) bra. Early 1960s Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) paint (diluted with water)
comes on market and is soon widely used by artists such as Warhol, Rauschenberg and Hockney.
1963 Mary Quant launches her ‘Wet Collection” made of plasticized PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It
had taken two years to work out how to bond the seams successfully. Robin Day polypropylene
one-piece injection molded chair shell begins manufacture.
1965 Twiggy models John Bates’s plasticized PVC (polyvinyl chloride) dress.
1967 Inflatable PVC (polyvinyl chloride) ‘Blow’ chair designed by DePas, D’Urbino., Lomazzi
and Scolari for Zanotta SpA, launched.
1969 Neil Armstrong plants a nylon (polyamide) flag on the moon.
1969 Beatles’ song ‘Polythene Pam’, the kind of a girl that makes the News of the World released
on Abbey Road album.
1970 Verner Panton’s cantilevered stackable chair, the first whole chair to be made out of a single
piece of injection-molded plastic becomes a reality. He had been working on the design since 1960.
The first pilot production models were made of glass reinforced polyester resin in 1967. It has
since been made of polyester integral foam, polyurethane, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) and
polypropylene.
1976 Plastic, in its great variety of types, said to be the material with the most uses in the world.
Concorde with its nose cone of purpose-made plastic goes into service.
1977 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) drinks bottle introduced.
1978 Polystyrene, lead singer of the Punk Band X-Ray Spex, bursts on the scene with ‘the day the
world turned day glow’.
1980 During this decade ICI and Bayer launch PEEK, PES and PPS as the new engineering
thermoplastics, Costs are enormous but specialist applications make a lasting market even after
ICI retreats from the plastics market.
1982 First artificial heart made mainly of polyurethane implanted in a human.
1983 The slim Swatch watch launched, its case of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and strap
of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Authentic Ltd., British firm renowned for its sharp, modern designs
in various plastics for domestic use, founded.
1988 Triangular recycling symbols identifying different types of plastics introduced.
1990 First biodegradable plastics launched by ICI
1993 Alessi designs its first all plastic product: The Gino Zucchino sugar pourer designed by Guido
Venturini.
1994 Smart car with lightweight flexible integrally colored polycarbonate panels introduced.
1998 Amorphous free standing Zanussi Oz fridge, with insulation and outer-skins made in one
process from polyurethane foam, launched.
2000 Issues relating to sustainability and the creation of plastics from renewable sources start
gathering momentum.
2005 Nasa explores the advantages of a polythene-based material, RXF1, for the space-ship that
will send man to Mars.
2007 Tate Britain ‘s Christmas tree decorated with plastic Air fix planes.
1.4 Impacts of plastic wastes
There are environmental impacts from plastic production, plastic use and plastic waste disposal.
Plastic containers are now lighter than they used to be, using less material, but our consumption
of plastic is still set to rise. The building blocks of plastic, known as monomers, are made from oil
and gas (plastic production uses 8% of the world oil production each year). To make the various
polymers used by industry for various uses (for example, PET for plastic bottles, polystyrene,
PVC) many chemicals are used which have not undergone a risk assessment.
Dioxins are produced when plastics are incinerated (or burnt in other fires in various processes).
These are extremely toxic even in very low doses, and they are persistent (taking a long time to
break down) and bio–accumulative (they build up in our bodies). They can cause cancer and may
affect our hormones and unborn children.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals which are hormone disrupters. Plastic toys made out of PVC
are often softened with phthalates.
Brominated flame retardants are a group of chemicals which are used in fabrics and plastics to
counteract the spread of fires. Most brominated flame retardants are persistent and bio-
accumulative, and several have been identified as hormone disrupters.
Bisphenol A is a chemical which mimics female hormones. It used in the plastic lining of most
food cans and in some polycarbonate plastic bottles. Studies have reported that bisphenol A in
polycarbonate babies’ feeding bottles may contaminate the contents when heated, with much
higher levels in scratched bottles. While the scientific debate continues about safe levels of human
exposure to bisphenol A, the reproduction of wildlife species is already known to be affected by
hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment.
The major concern of plastic wastes is the waste disposal mechanism. In Ethiopia these wastes are
disposed by burning with other household wastes. This burning habit of plastic could cause major
health problems on the community as well as on the wildlife.
Surveys show that home burning of waste is widespread across rural areas all-over the world.
Waste is either burned outside in the yard or garden, or inside in ovens. Waste that is burned can
include paper, cardboard, food scraps and plastics, — essentially any materials that would
otherwise be recycled or picked up by a waste collection company. Air emissions from home
burning are released directly into the house or the atmosphere without being treated or filtered.
The most dangerous emissions can be caused by burning plastics containing organochlor-based
substances like PVC. When such plastics are burned, harmful quantities of dioxins, a group of
highly toxic chemicals are emitted. Dioxins are the most toxic to the human organisms. They are
carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor and persistent, and they accumulate in our body-fat and thus
mothers give it directly to their babies via the placenta. Dioxins also settle on crops and in our
waterways where they eventually wind up in our food, accumulate in our bodies and are passed on
to our children.
1.5 Objective
The objective of this project is to give awareness about the hazardous impacts of plastic wastes to
human health and he wildlife. This project also aims at devising a simple mechanical mechanism
for recycling plastic wastes.
This project is also to identify contextually appropriate and simple way to perform plastic waste
recycling as well as encourage the community, especially university students, to be part of this life
saving activity.

1.6 Introduction to problem statement

In recent years, the production of wastes has gained considerable importance within modern
societies as a result of the change in the consumption habits and lifestyles of consumers. The
evolution of societies worldwide has led to phenomena of mass consumption, thus resulting in
increasing amounts of wastes produced and increased environmental impact generated by these
wastes.
A growing environmental awareness coupled with the increasing lack of available soil for final
deposition has triggered a number of processes that, although late in appearance, try to mend part
of the damage caused by mankind on their surrounding environment over the years. It is an
antagonistic matter, this of human development, because if on one hand, the industrial, social,
commercial and intellectual development verified over centuries of existence of the human species,
is recognized as necessary for the improvement of its quality of life, on the other hand and at the
same time, mankind has not been able to cope this evolution with mother earth’s health in search
of a (at least) sustainable development.
The above is particularly important when addressing waste management problems. For some, the
production of plastic waste has even been seen as a factor of evolution or development. More
than ever, it is imperative to reduce the production of plastic waste through the rational use of the
resources at our disposal. There are several ways to “fight” the production of waste, the most
important being not to produce it in the first place. Besides the reduction at source, other ways to
reduce the production of waste are to valorize/recover it either materially (recycling,
composting) or energetically (energy recovery). The adequacy of products to their end of life
recovery options is an important factor in guaranteeing that products may have a second-life.
 Chapter Two
Literature review
Youcef Ghernouti et al. The study presents the partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete
by using plastic fine aggregate obtained from the crushing of waste plastic bags. Plastic bags waste
was heated followed by cooling of liquid waste which was then cooled and crushed to obtained
plastic sand having finesse modulus of 4.7. Fine aggregate in the mix proportion of concrete was
replaced with plastic bag waste sand at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% whereas other concrete materials
remain same for all four mixes. In fresh properties of concrete, it was observed from the results of
slump test that with increase of waste content workability of concrete increases which is favorable
for concrete because plastic cannot absorb water therefore excessive water is available. Bulk
density decreases with increase of plastic bags waste. In harden state, flexural and compressive
strength were tested at 28 days and reductions in both strengths with increasing percentage of
plastic bag waste sand in concrete mix. Plastic waste increases the volume of voids in concrete
which on other hand reduce the compactness of concrete simultaneously speed of sound in
concrete is also decreased. Strength reduction in concrete mix was prime concern; however, they
recommend 10 to 20% replacement of fine aggregate with plastic aggregate. Use of admixtures to
address the strength reduction property of concrete with addition of plastic aggregate is not
emphasized.
Raghatate Atul M. The paper is based on experimental results of concrete sample casted with use
of plastic bags pieces to study the compressive and split tensile strength. He used concrete mix by
using Ordinary Portland Cement, Natural River sand as fine aggregate and crushed granite stones
as coarse aggregate, portable water free from impurities and containing varying percentage of
waste plastic bags (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% 0.8% and 1.0%). Compressive strength of concrete
specimen is affected by the addition of plastic bags and with increasing percentage of plastic bag
pieces’ compressive strength goes on decreasing (20% decrease in compressive strength with 1%
of addition of plastic bag pieces). On other hand increase in tensile strength of concrete was
observed by adding up to 0.8% of plastic bag pieces in the concrete mix afterward it starts
decreasing when adding more than 0.8% of plastic bags pieces. He concluded that utility of plastic
bags pieces can be used for possible increase in split tensile strength. This is just a basic study on
use of plastic bags in concrete. More emphasis was required by varying the shape and sizes of
plastic bags to be use in concrete mixes.
Praveen Mathew et al. [2013] They have investigated the suitability of recycled plastic as partial
replacement to coarse aggregate in concrete mix to study effect on compressive strength, modulus
of elasticity, split tensile strength and flexural strength properties of concrete. Coarse aggregate
from plastic was obtained by heating the plastic pieces at required temperature and crushed to
required size of aggregate after cooling. Their experimental results shown that plastic aggregate
have low crushing (2.0 as compare to 28 for Natural aggregate), low specific gravity (0.9 as
compare to 2.74 for Natural aggregate), and density value (0.81 as compare to 3.14 for Natural
aggregate), as compare to Natural coarse aggregate. Their test results were based on 20%
substitution of natural coarse aggregate with plastic aggregate. Increase in workability was
reported when slump test for sample was carried out. Volumetric substitution of natural aggregate
with plastic aggregate was selected best in comparison with grade substitution. At 400 centigrade
temperature Plastic coarse aggregate shown considerable decrease in strength as compare to
normal concrete. An increase of 28% was observed in compressive strength but decrease in split
tensile strength and modulus of elasticity was observed. They recommended that with use of
suitable admixture 0.4% by weight of cement will improve the bonding between matrix and plastic
aggregate; however, they demand more research to address the tensile behavior of concrete
prepared with 20% plastic aggregate.
R L Ramesh et al. They have used waste plastic of low density poly ethylene as replacement to
coarse aggregate to determine its viable application in construction industry and to study the
behavior of fresh and harden concrete properties. Different concrete mix were prepared with
varying proportions (0%, 20%, 30% & 40%) of recycle plastic aggregate obtained by heat
treatment of plastic waste (160-200 centigrade) in plastic granular recycling machine. A concrete
mix design with 1: 1.5: 3 proportions was used having 0.5 water/cement ratio having varying
proportion of plastic aggregate as replacement of crushed stone. Proper mixing was ensured and
homogeneous mixture was prepared. A clear reduction in compressive strength was reported with
increase in percentage of replacing plastic aggregate with crushed aggregate at 7, 14 and 28 days
of casted cubes (80% strength achieved by replacing waste plastic up to 30%). The research
highlights the potential application of plastic aggregate in light weight aggregate. Their research
was narrowed down to compressive strength of concrete with no emphasis given to flexural
properties of concrete. They suggest future research scope on plastic aggregate with regard to its
split tensile strength to ascertain its tensile behavior and its durability aspects for beams and
columns.
Zainab Z. Ismail et al. [2007] they have conducted comprehensive study based on large number
of experiments and tests in order to determine the feasibility of reusing plastic sand as partial
replacement of fine aggregate in concrete. They conducted tests on concrete samples for dry/fresh
density, slump, compressive and flexural strength and finally toughness indices on room
temperature They have collected waste plastic from plastic manufacture plant consist of 80%
polyethylene and 20% polystyrene which was crushed (varying length of 0.15-12mm and width of
0.15-4mm). Concrete mix were produce with ordinary Portland cement, fine aggregate (natural
sand of 4.74mm maximum size), coarse aggregate (max size below 20mm) and addition of 10%,
15% and 20% of plastic waste as sand replacement. Their test results indicate sharp decrease in
slump with increasing the percentage of plastic, this decrease was attributed to the presence of
angular and non-uniform plastic particles. In spite of low slump however, the mixture was
observed with good workability and declared suitable for application. Their tests also revealed the
decrease in fresh and dry density with increasing the plastic waste ratio; however, increase was
reported in dry density with time at all curing ages. Decrease in compressive and flexural strength
was observed by increasing the waste plastic ratio which can be related to decrease in adhesive
strength between plastic waste particles with cement. However, load-deflection curve of concrete
containing plastic waste showed the arrest of propagation of micro cracks which shows its
application in places where high toughness is required. The study has shown good workability in
spite of low slump but w/c content kept constant in all samples. They should have reduced the
water content in order to improve the strength when workability was not an issue.
P. Suganthy et al.[2013] This study investigate the application of pulverized fine crushed plastic
(produce from melting and crushing of high density polyethylene) as replacement of fine aggregate
in concrete with varying known percentages. Their main focus was on optimum replacement of
natural sand by pulverized plastic sand. Five concrete mixes were produced from specified
concrete materials having replacement of fine aggregate (sand) by 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%
respectively to study the test graph results of various concrete properties. The results showed
increase in water/cement ratio with increase replacement of sand with plastic particles to achieve
desired 90mm concrete slump. They have also observed from the results that gradual decrease in
strength of concrete specimen for plastic replacement up to 25% but afterward the decrease in
strength israpid which shows suitable replacement up to 25% of sand with plastic pulverized sand.
They have also concluded after testing of specimen (having different proportion of plastic
replacement) for Ultimate and yield strength that both strength decreases with increase
replacement of sand with pulverized plastic particles. Their study lacks detailed testing of
properties of concrete because only compressive strength and w/c ratio tests will not be sufficient
to study the matrix as a whole to be suitable for construction. No efforts were made to explore the
use of admixtures in controlling of compressive strength reduction in a mix containing pulverized
plastics.
Khilesh Sarwe.[2014] This study presents the results of addition of waste plastics along with steel
fibers with an objective to seek maximum use of waste plastic in concrete. Two different categories
of mix were casted in cubes (150mm x 150mm x 150mm), one with varying percentages of plastic
wastes (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1% weight of cement) and another mix of plastics waste/steel
fibers (0.2/0.1, 0.4/0.2, 0.6/0.3, 0.8/0.4 and 1/0.5 % by weight of cement) to study the compressive
strength at 7 and 28 days’ strength. The combine mix of plastic waste and steel fibers has shown
more strength as compare to concrete mix prep only with plastic waste. He has reached to
conclusion that a plastic waste of 0.6% weight of cement when used with steel fiber of 0.3 %
(weight of cement) has shown the maximum compressive strength. This study has really focused
on addressing the issue of reduced compressive strength with addition of plastic waste. Steel fibers
when used along with plastic wastes will affect all the properties of concrete but the researcher
only focused on compressive strength property which is insufficient to give clear picture of
concrete behavior.
A Bhogayata et al. [2012] they have studied the environment friendly disposal of shredded plastic
bags in concrete mix to be use in construction industry which have dire need for alternative
material to be use in lieu of conventional materials. Different test results were analyzed after testing
on 48 x concrete cubes(150mm x 150mm x150mm) prepared from varying percentage of
polyethylene fibers (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 to 1.2% of volume of concrete) with conventional concrete
material to prepare mixes. Two type of plastic bag fibers were used, one cut manually (60mm x
3mm) and another shredded into a very fine random palette. Cubes were tested for 7&28 days’
compressive strength and compaction. They concluded that good workability was shown by the
mix added with shredded fibers due to its uniform and higher aspect ratio evenly sprayed in the
mix. Addition of plastics up to 0.6% is considered suitable after which reduction in compressive
strength and compaction is seen affected. They observed that strength loss was less in concrete
having shredded fibers of plastic as compare to hand cut macro fibers. Their research focus was
only on comparative study of compressive strength but no work was carries out on other concrete
properties like tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and density of concrete.
M. Elzafraney et al. [2005] this study has incorporated use of recycled plastic aggregate in
concrete material for a building to work out its performance with regards to thermal attributes and
efficient energy performance in comparison with normal aggregate concrete. The plastic content
concrete was prepared from refined high recycled plastics to meet various requirement of building
construction like strength, workability and finish ability etc. Both buildings were subject to long
and short term monitoring in order to determine their energy efficiencies and level of comfort. It
was observed that recycled plastic concrete building having good insulation used 8% less energy
in comparison of normal concrete; however, saving in energy was more profound in cold climate
in building with lower insulation. They recommended that efficiency of energy can further be
increase if recycle plastic of high thermal capacity is used. They have suggested the use of recycle
plastic aggregate concrete being economical and light weights are having high resistance to heat.
The author should also incorporate the comparison of both buildings with regards to durability and
strength.
Pramod S. Patil.et al This study presents the use of plastic recycled aggregate as replacement of
coarse aggregate for production of concrete. They used forty-eight specimens and six
beams/cylinders casted from variable plastic percentages (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) used as
replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete mixes. They have conducted various tests and
observed decrease in density of concrete with increase percentage of replacement of aggregate
with recycle plastic concrete. They also reported decrease in compressive strength for 7 and 28
days with increase in percentage of replacement of coarse aggregate with recycle plastic aggregate.
They have recommended feasibility of replacing 20 % will satisfy the permissible limits of
strength. Again these researchers limited their research to only compressive strength property and
no work was carried out to study the other important properties of concrete. Their research also
lacks use of various admixtures in concrete to cater for the loss in strength.