Manufacturing and testing of waste PET reinforced with sand bricks

Abstract

The high and increasing demand for plastic materials has led to a global challenge in the form of plastic pollution, because of the different types of discarded plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), etc.; it has become difficult to recycle it. Thus, only a limited percentage of plastic is recycled. Many studies in this field are trying to find alternative solutions such as the introduction of plastic in building materials. This study examines brick particles as reinforcement in polyethylene as a matrix. 30%, 35%, 40%, and 45% of weighted brick sand were combined with PET and prepared by melt compounding and processed through a single-screw extruder at 260°C. Thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that in the presence of brick particles, the thermal degradation temperature of the composites increased. The composite that contains 45% of brick sand weight attempted 314.323°C as the highest degradation temperature, as well as the glass transition temperature. Mechanical tests show that the addition of brick in the matrix leads to a significant reduction in impact resistance. Static failure stress reaches 26.26 (MPa) in a composition of 30% of the brick sand weight. Young’s modulus shows better results in 30% of weighted brick sand equal to 2,771 (MPa). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveals a uniform distribution of the reinforcing charge.