Study of the Mechanical and Electrochemical Performance of Structural Concrete Incorporating Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate as a Partial Fine Aggregate Replacement

Abstract

The extraction of materials, such as sand and gravel, required for the manufacture of concrete results in the overexploitation of natural resources and a large release of CO2 emissions into the environment. Therefore, the search for alternatives to partially replace these aggregates has become an important issue to solve. Nonetheless, the demand for producing sustainable yet high-strength and durable concrete using alternative materials has led concrete technologists to develop high-performance concrete. These novel concretes possess superior engineering properties, such as high durability and ductility, low maintenance costs, high mechanical strength, and prolonged service life. Currently, there is significant interest in the development of concrete–polymer compounds, primarily to improve the mechanical properties of the material. In this context, the present study explores the partial replacement of fine aggregate with recycled Polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) in different proportions to produce green structural concrete, with the aim of studying its impact on the mechanical and electrochemical properties. The mechanical properties evaluated were the compressive and flexural strengths, while the electrochemical properties were evaluated through the open circuit potential and polarization curves. The results indicated that specimens containing different R-PET percentages as a replacement for fine aggregate showed higher increases in compressive and flexural strengths. It was also found that the presence of R-PET decreased the corrosion rate of the reinforcing steel when seawater was used as the electrolyte.