Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 1-2023

Abstract

Over the last decades, plastic waste (PW) has increased exponentially and has become a serious threat to our planet, aquatic system and human health. Recycling or reusing PW in producing ecofriendly materials is an efficient solution to reduce plastic pollution and to minimize the depletion of raw materials as well. Previous studies have shown promising potentials of using PW in the construction sector, such as binder, aggregate, or substitute of cement and sand in concrete, brick or mortar. Laboratory results indicate that implementing plastic waste as aggregates in cement composites obtains higher thermal resistance and acoustical performance. However, a reduction in the compressive strength has been noticed with the increase of the PW content. Therefore, this study attempts to identify the optimum acceptable plastic waste content to be involved in the construction material in order to enhance its thermal resistance without jeopardizing the compressive strength. The aim of this study is achieved through a systematic review identified by keywords. Papers that did not include plastic waste reuse in construction material were eliminated. The inclusion criteria were based on the latest studies from 2012 that investigated the impact of plastic waste on thermal conductivity and compressive strength. A comparative analysis is then conducted on the eligible papers focusing on the used type, particle size and percentages of the applied PW and the impact on the thermal conductivity and the compressive strength. This review presents possibilities of reusing plastic waste to develop lightweight composites with better thermal capabilities and acoustical performance which enhance the building energy performance and create a more ecofriendly and sustainable environment. However, only a limited amount of plastic is allowable to be used to avoid the deterioration of the compressive strength.

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