Assessment of Mechanical and Physical Properties of Concrete with Polypropylene Plastic Granule Aggregates

Abstract

The increasing use of plastic materials has significantly contributed to the global accumulation of plastic waste. Incorporating plastic waste into concrete offers a partial yet promising solution to this environmental challenge. This study investigates the use of polypropylene (PP) plastic granules as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete. The primary objective is to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of concrete incorporating PP granules, focusing on parameters such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, workability, and density. Mixes were prepared with 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% replacement levels of fine aggregates by PP granules. The corresponding slump values observed were 8.10 cm, 8.40 cm, 8.60 cm, and 8.80 cm, indicating a slight improvement in workability with increased plastic content. However, the inclusion of PP granules adversely affected the mechanical properties, with compressive and split tensile strength showing significant reductions at 40% replacement, the compressive strength decreased by up to 60%, suggesting that high levels of substitution may not be suitable for structural applications.