Optimization of recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottle fibers in grasscrete

Abstract

Abstract Cement and concrete production account for between 5% to 8% of global CO2. Waste PET plastic and glass waste have also brought about rapid environmental degradation. Glasscrete was developed with glass powder of fewer than 75 microns (has pozzolanic properties) that performed 14% better than concrete at 90 days. So, to further this effort, this experimental research considered the glass create C20 (at 10% cement replacement) and added PET fibers (of aspect ratio 25) at different percentages of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% the weight of cement in a bid to optimize the grasscrete performance and its ability to absorb PET waste. Glasscrete being extremely brittle alone, failed by cracking at all percentage PET additions, thus improving its safety factor. A 1% PET fiber addition to grasscrete exhibited the highest strength properties compared to other percentage additions while having a durability of 1.5% better than concrete. It is thus recommended for structural uses as it outperforms concrete. Despite this, a 1% fiber addition decreased grasscrete’s compressive strength by at least 3.5% at 28 days and 6% at 90 days but improved the flexural strength by 5.4% at 28 days and 0.8% at 90 days testing.