Utilization of PET flakes in enhancing the compressive strength of concrete / Yek Ren Yew and Satesh Namasivayam

Waste is increasing at an alarming rate globally, and in particular, plastic-based waste, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is chemically inert and is non-biodegradable in the environment, thus, it poses a significant environmental challenge globally. In order to reduce plastic waste, engineers and scientists have attempted to recycle PET waste into construction-based technology as reinforcements. Previous investigations have shown that there is some enhancement to the mechanical behavior of PET reinforced concrete, but the results are varied. The mechanical properties of PET-reinforced concrete greatly depend on the geometry of the PET flakes, such as their length, width, and concentration. The current paper presents results for PET reinforced concrete, containing PET flakes varying in geometry, and compares them with the characteristics of normal ordinary concrete. The geometry, or specifically the length of the PET additives used, ranges from 5 to 12 mm. A total of 3 tests were performed, compressive, flexural, and tensile strength tests. The failure mode of the specimen was also investigated. The proportion of PET additives used in this experiment were 0%, 1%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. The findings show that by adding 1% was the optimum concentration of PET, and it enhanced the compressive strength of concrete by 47% compared to normal ordinary concrete.