Energy efficient building envelope using waste PET in concrete

One of the major environmental threat in the world today is the increased production of plastic and its usage. The inept plastic waste management system with regard to its recycling and energy recovery in the developing countries creates a global threat as a major land and water body pollutant. However, its durability, thermal properties, and chemical resistance make plastics an alternate choice as a building material. This study investigates the use of plastic in concrete mixture with an objective to improve the thermal performance of the building. The shredded plastic fibers from plastic bottles (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) were used as a partial weight replacement (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%) of coarse aggregate in concrete blocks. The cubes were cast using the Indian standards (IS 456) and the essential tests were performed. Additionally, experiments were designed to investigate the change in the thermal conductivity of the concrete block due to the varying amount of plastic. It was found that the use of PETs affected the compressive strength and also decreased the thermal conductivity of the concrete blocks. The experimental results suggest that PETs can be used in the construction of energy-efficient building to handle the environmental concerns because of its abundance.