Chemistry
Investigatory Project
MAKING BRICKS WITH PLASTIC WASTES, CEMENT, AND WATER
In partial fulfillment of the course Science 9
ABSTRACT
The population is rapidly increasing, and new establishments are being made for everybody's needs. At the same time that our numbers increase, so does the pollution. It's seen everywhere, and whenever this is talked about plastic wastes is always included. The researchers are aiming to make Eco-friendly bricks, and if it's done, test its sturdiness. To make this product, obtaining plastic (pulverized), cement and water is a must.Mixing these would make the wet form of the cement. After that, let it dry. As the results were gathered, the responses to their questions were answered. Firstly, it is true that they have made the bricks successfully, but it is not sturdy and this was proven by comparing it to the usual brick.
INTRODUCTION
The estimated population of the whole world as of today is 7,100,414,100. With so many people, it would be almost impossible to house all of them. Humans overuse the resources left to build houses, subdivisions, and cities in order to accommodate as many people as possible. At the same time that our numbers increase, so does the pollution. It is everywhere-- dirty, contaminated rivers, clogged drainage. Humans create so many objects, and most of these things just go to waste. And when pollution is being talked about, plastic waste is always included. One of the leading contributors to such is disposable plastic in any form, be it wrappers, bags, utensils, straws, containers or bottles. Plastics can live up to a thousand years before it decomposes, and that makes plastic a deadly weapon of destruction. With that in mind, this project aims to help fix the housing problem by using bricks made from plastic. Not only is this project helping improve our trouble with housing, it also helps in lessening the amount of plastics we have. Recycling plastics is brought to a whole new level; using it to build houses that are more stable and more secure is definitely a big thing. It’s like hitting two birds with a stone, and with the right measures, this project hopes to improve our lives and the lives of the future generation.
PROBLEM
Problem 1: Can bricks be made with plastics, cement, and water?
Problem 2: If it can be done, would it be sturdy?
HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis 1: If plastic wastes are mixed with cement and water, then it would make bricks.
Hypothesis 2: If the product was made with plastic, cement, and water, then it would be sturdy and be proven by having a drop-test and comparing it to the usual bricks.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Making bricks with plastic, cement and water is definitely beneficial to everyone. The researchers clearly stated that this product cannot be used for heavy load-bearing form. Thus, they did this to lessen plastic wastes. It would also be of great help to those who want their light load bearing structures such as fences, canals and walls.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The focus of this research is mainly about how plastic can be used to obtain effective cement. According to the researchers, they have proven effective and useful to reduce plastic wastes, but this is only good for no load bearing. The product is not intended for heavy construction because it is not sturdy enough to hold heavy weight.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW of RELATED LITERATURE
“Hollow Blocks from Plastic”
(Article from BatoBalani Magazine)
It's very hard to avoid using plastic even if we want to. They are simply used in almost everything, from foods and beverages to gadgets and even construction materials. They are actually very useful to us. It's just that they are not exactly environment-friendly. They are one of the biggest contributors to the growing garbage problems and environmental concerns worldwide
In answer to these garbage problems, a local municipality in the province of Rizal started a project of collecting plastics to be used in the manufacture of hollow blocks. The municipality of Teresa in Rizal is currently operating a solid waste management program in Barangay Dalig. Let's find out what makes their program stand out from the others.
How It Started
Back in 2005, then Mayor Rodel de la Cruz instructed his environment officials to put together a 10-year solid waste management program. While in the process of planning, they were approached by a group called Earth Product Philippines. The group introduced to them a recycling system that can turn garbage residue into concrete products. Upon seeing the potential of the proposed system, Mayor de la Cruz contradicted the group to orient municipal and barangay officials about the system for a year. He also ordered the use of a pulverizer for the municipality.The nine barangays of the municipality then set up material recovery facilities (MRFs) over the next few months after the initial planning. The MRFs are small warehouses where garbage could be further segregated. They also had a crew of "eco-boys" who collect trash from households.
Developments and Expansion
By February 2006, they shut down the town's dump to give way to a bigger municipal MRF. By then, the residents already practice segregating their own wastes and sell plastic containers and newspapers. The barangay MRFs built a compost pit where they can dump kitchen wastes such as fruit and vegetable peelings. They also allocated separate boxes for storing biodegradable and non-biodegradable, which they ultimately sell to junkyards.
As for the garbage from markets, a pit was dug near the municipal MRF where market wastes are combined with farm manure to turn it into fertilizer. These are given away to vegetable farmers for free. Since then, they renamed the MRF as Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF).
Turning Plastic into Hollow Blocks
In the new ISWMF, the production of hollow blocks takes place. The plastic waste are first pulverized. Then two sacks of the pulverized plastic are mixed with a bag of cement and 15 pails of sand. The mixture is then poured into a molder. This produces about 140 to 150 hollow blocks. Aside from hollow blocks, they also mold paving bricks, wall cladding, cement tiles, paving blocks, and cement balusters.However, environmentalists have raised concerns regarding the durability of the product. They said plastics aren't perfect for holding construction materials together. According to Marlon Pielago, the chief implementer of the solid waste management program and a municipal environment and natural resources officer, they are well aware of the quality of their products. They are admittedly not as solid as the commercially produced ones, which
are made of pure construction materials. However, he defended that their hollow blocks made with plastic have passed strength tests that are conducted by the Bureau of Product Standards. Their hollow blocks were classified as "no load-bearing" products. This means it can only be used in structures like fences, walls, and canals.At present, the ISWMF are receiving orders of hollow blocks. The Teresa government is also passing the technology on to the barangays so that they can make their own concrete materials. Not only are they able to address the municipality's garbage problem, they opened a business opportunity for the town and the residents as well. “
http://keniaamormanga-saveearth.blogspot.com/2012/06/hollow-blocks-from-plastic.html
Review:
According to the article, Barangay Dalig has found a way to lessen their plastic wastes. Their mayor back then in 2005 has instructed to his officials to put up a 10-year solid waste management program. A group (Earth Product Philippines) introduced to them a system wherein garbage residue can turn into concrete products. Mayor dela Cruz agreed to this and oriented municipal and barangay officials about the system for a year. He also ordered the use of a pulverizer for the municipality. The nine barangays of the municipality then set up material recovery facilities (MRFs) over the next few months after the initial planning. The MRFs are small warehouses where garbage could be further segregated. They also had a crew of "eco-boys" who collect trash from households.By 2006, they shut down the town’s dump to give way to bigger MRF. The residents were also practicing the segregation of plastic. The MRF even built a composite pit for the kitchen wastes. Market wastes were also mixed with manure in a pit to turn it into fertilizer. They give these to vegetable farmers for free and since then, they renamed MRF to Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF). After some time, the production of hollow bricks takes place. They pulverize the plastics first then add these to sand and cement. The mixture is poured into a molder. The product can count up to 140-150 blocks. Environmentalists quickly noticed the durability of these products. According to Marlon Pielago, the chief implementer of the solid waste management program and a municipal environment and natural resources officer, they are well aware of the quality of their products. They are admittedly not as solid as the commercially produced ones, which are made of pure construction materials. However, he defended that their hollow blocks made with plastic have passed strength tests that are conducted by the Bureau of Product Standards. Their hollow blocks were classified as "no load-bearing" products. This means it can only be used in structures like fences, walls, and canals.At present, the ISWMF are receiving orders of hollow blocks. The Teresa government is also passing the technology on to the barangays so that they can make their own concrete materials. Not only are they able to address the municipality's garbage problem, they opened a business opportunity for the town and the residents as well.
“Plastic Concrete: Building Bricks Made From Landfill Waste”
by Trey Farmer
“Recent RPI Masters of Architecture graduate Henry Miller has devised a way to reuse waste plastic as an aggregate in cement, circumventing the energy-intensive process of plastic recycling. By grinding up landfill-bound plastic and mixing it with Portland cement, Miller was able to create a material just as strong as traditional concrete made with mined aggregate. The ingenious solution netted miller first place in the “Component Category” of the second annual Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World competition.Using recycled materials is so hot right now, but using them as aggregate is hotter than Hansel in a black shirt on a summer Sunday. While living in Albany, Miller saw many areas cut their plastic recycling programs for the cheaper (now) solution of landfills, and noticed the astounding number of brownfield sites that were simply being abandoned. Miller’s idea: Why not use plastic waste as an aggregate in concrete and create a more sensible product. By mixing together ground-up plastic with cement and soil reclaimed from the brownfields, Miller was able to create a material just as strong as conventional concrete.The Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World competition only asked students to conceptualize a design, but Miller he was not satisfied with a mere idea. He actually used his plastic concrete to build a screen and a wall. In doing so he showed that his ideas were viable alternatives to the status quo and that there was no excuse to merely fall in line.Describing his project, Henry Louis Miller states: “Recycling plastics is a difficult, energy intensive process, and yields a product that is inferior to the virgin material. I have researched the possibility of using granulated, post-consumer waste plastics as the aggregate in concrete. In this application, unlike plastics can be universally mixed with no adverse effects, heat driven re-amalgamation is not required, and my early test results show the resulting product is as strong as conventional concrete mixes (between 3000 and 5000psi.) As a result of using plastic rather
than conventional aggregate, the mining of new material to serve as aggregate is not necessary.”
http://inhabitat.com/plastic-concrete-repurposes-landfill-waste-into-building-bricks/
Review:
According to the article, Henry Miller has devised a new way of recycling plastic. By adding plastic components into the mixture of Portland cement, it would create a material just as strong as traditional concrete made with mined aggregate.Describing his project, Henry Louis Miller states: “Recycling plastics is a difficult, energy intensive process, and yields a product that is inferior to the virgin material. I have researched the possibility of using granulated, post-consumer waste plastics as the aggregate in concrete. In this application, unlike plastics can be universally mixed with no adverse effects, heat driven re-amalgamation is not required, and my early test results show the resulting product is as strong as conventional concrete mixes (between 3000 and 5000psi.) As a result of using plastic rather than conventional aggregate, the mining of new material to serve as aggregate is not necessary.”
“Plastic waste set in concrete”
by Alexander Hellemans
Because plastic is widely available and not biodegradable, it is a material of choice to include as
a component of light concreteIn Europe more than 12 million tons of mixed plastic waste are dumped on landfills every year, according to a report from NUMIX scientists. The recycling of plastic into usable products has proven difficult. That’s because plastic waste contains many different types of plastic that have to be treated in different ways for recycling. Now, a new method designed to create expanded construction nodules from mixed plastic waste may replace the expanded clay traditionally used in light concrete that is not used for structural part of a building and often contains air bubbles."If you look at the volume of light-weight concrete that is now produced in Europe, we could potentially use all the mixed plastic waste," Alessandra Passaro tells youris.com. He is the coordinator of the EU funded NUMIX programme, which developed the new technology, and a materials engineer at CETMA, a research organization based in Brindisi, Italy.The wide availability of plastic waste an advantage combined with the fact that it is not biodegradable. "We performed a lot of tests to make sure that mixed plastics could be used in concrete," says Passaro, adding that researchers expect that the plastic will survive at least a hundred years.However, promoting the technology, which CETMA patented, has still proven difficult, according to Passaro, despite the fact that:" [this] aggregate has a cost that is similar to the aggregate made with expanded clay," he says. Economic incentives, such as subsidies for recycling mixed plastic waste are lacking or have been cancelled because of the financial crisis, points out Passaro. To their surprise, the researchers found that there is also a psychological barrier to adopting this technology. But there is more interest at the European level for the clay aggregate, because it is viewed as a more sustainable and ecofriendly material. "The presence of European standards that would have taken into account the possibility of using mixed plastic aggregate would have been of help," comments Passaro. Roger Morton, Director of Axion Recycling Ltd, a London, UK-based company that also sells mixed plastic waste to companies that process it further to convert it into high-grade plastic waste and also for the production of fuel, agrees that the introduction of mixed plastic waste in concrete might meet with resistance in the market. "Concrete is a very long-lasting material and people would be nervous about an unknown component that may prove to cause problems," he tells youris.com, “You want a lot of evidence that the material will remain strong and not crack.” But he agrees that the technology is interesting for non-supporting structures.However, there is a need to evaluate the ecological impact and sustainability of using plastic waste in the cement industry. "What we call ‘fluff’, paper and plastic waste, is used as fuel in the production of cement. So we have to find out what is more sustainable: burning the plastic waste or use it as filler in concrete," explains Christian Rech, an engineering consultant at cement manufacturer Cimalux, in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. In addition, the recyclability of concrete matters too. Some local authorities, such as Zürich, require that concrete be recyclable. This means that using plastic filler in concrete will then require extra processing for separating out the plastic. Rech also wonders how the aggregate will behave in case of fire and whether it will affect its resistance against heat. He concludes: "These are all points that still have to be clarified.”
http://www.youris.com/Environment/Recycling/Plastic_Waste_Set_In_Concrete.kl#axzz2gU3pezKs
Review:
According to this article, plastic is widely available an not biodegradable, thus making it as a material of choice in light concrete. Plastic is easily obtained and is also easily dumped. Recycling plastic is difficult because of its different components and way to handle it. But they have come up with a new product. They would create construction nodules from plastic wastes. The wide availability of plastic serves as an advantage for this proposed project. However questions have risen. Is the durability the same as the pure cement and sand? Would it decrease its resistance to heat? There are points that still have to be clarified.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PLASTIC- any wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are mold able. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances.
CEMENT- A binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together.
NO LOAD BEARING- cannot hold heavy weight
STURDY- strong enough to withstand rough work or treatment
PULVERIZE- reduce to fine particles
PULVERIZING MACHINE- a mechanical device for the grinding of many different types of materials.
HOLLOW- an empty space inside of something
CONCRETE- a composite material composed of coarse granular material embedded in a hard matrix of material that fills the space among the aggregate particles and glues them together
LAND FILLED WASTE- to dispose of refuse or reclaim land by filling in low-lying ground
PORTLAND CEMENT- the most common type of cement in general use around the world
CHAPTER III
Methodology
The sample used in this research is brick. This brick is neither good looking nor sturdy but it helps lessen plastic wastes in our environment. The researcher did this brick with the use of cement, water, and of course, plastic wastes. The cement is the main ingredient in doing the product. And they only included water to mix the powdered materials and the plastic wastes. The materials were obtained by the examiners with the help of their acquaintance who gave it to them for free. This investigatory project is both research and experimental. The results were gathered through comparing the real cement brick with their product and having a drop test.
MATERIALS
· Cement
· Containers
· Plastic wastes
· Materials for pulverizing plastics (scissors, blade)
· Water
PROCEDURE
What the researchers did first was obtain their cement and water. Specifically, the examiners used a cup of cement and a half cup of water. After that, they pulverized the plastics which was a 1.5 liter bottle. This took a lot of time. But after that, they mixed the plastics and the cement together. They mixed this with water thus making the wet form of cement. After this, they left it to mold and harden.
Chapter IV
Results and Discussion
PROPERTIES OF THE PRODUCT
Was the product sturdy?
RESULT
The product was NOT sturdy.
Was the product easily made?
RESULT
The product was simple to make, but takes time to harden.
Was the product good-looking or acceptable to the sight?
RESULT
Some of the plastics may be seen, but only little.
Interpretation of Data:
As the researchers make the product, several questions were asked. One of these is the sturdiness of the cement. It was not sturdy because a crack appeared on the product and it was easily broken. The researchers also did a test drop of 4 feet, and it broke easily.. Another question is the ease of making it. The cement, like ordinary cement mixture, was easy to make and took only the normal precautions. What took a long time though was the time for drying the product. The last question would be its physical attributes. The cement was molded but few plastics may still be seen.
ANALYSIS
“If plastic wastes are mixed with cement, sand, &water, then it would make cement/ bricks, but it would not be as sturdy as the usual brick..”
CONCLUSION
They have successfully created bricks with cement, water and plastic. It was, however, not sturdy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To everyone who would do this research in the future, the researchers recommend the use of pulverizing machine because the results would be better. They should also use a molder for more enhanced appearance.
Bibliography:
“Hollow Blocks from Plastic”
http://keniaamormanga-saveearth.blogspot.com/2012/06/hollow-blocks-from-plastic.html
“Plastic Concrete: Building Bricks Made From Landfill Waste”
http://inhabitat.com/plastic-concrete-repurposes-landfill-waste-into-building-bricks
“Plastic waste set in concrete”
http://www.youris.com/Environment/Recycling/Plastic_Waste_Set_In_Concrete.kl#axzz2gU3pezKs
MAKING BRICKS WITH PLASTIC WASTES, CEMENT, AND WATER
In partial fulfillment of the course Science 9
ABSTRACT
The population is rapidly increasing, and new establishments are being made for everybody's needs. At the same time that our numbers increase, so does the pollution. It's seen everywhere, and whenever this is talked about plastic wastes is always included. The researchers are aiming to make Eco-friendly bricks, and if it's done, test its sturdiness. To make this product, obtaining plastic (pulverized), cement and water is a must.Mixing these would make the wet form of the cement. After that, let it dry. As the results were gathered, the responses to their questions were answered. Firstly, it is true that they have made the bricks successfully, but it is not sturdy and this was proven by comparing it to the usual brick.
INTRODUCTION
The estimated population of the whole world as of today is 7,100,414,100. With so many people, it would be almost impossible to house all of them. Humans overuse the resources left to build houses, subdivisions, and cities in order to accommodate as many people as possible. At the same time that our numbers increase, so does the pollution. It is everywhere-- dirty, contaminated rivers, clogged drainage. Humans create so many objects, and most of these things just go to waste. And when pollution is being talked about, plastic waste is always included. One of the leading contributors to such is disposable plastic in any form, be it wrappers, bags, utensils, straws, containers or bottles. Plastics can live up to a thousand years before it decomposes, and that makes plastic a deadly weapon of destruction. With that in mind, this project aims to help fix the housing problem by using bricks made from plastic. Not only is this project helping improve our trouble with housing, it also helps in lessening the amount of plastics we have. Recycling plastics is brought to a whole new level; using it to build houses that are more stable and more secure is definitely a big thing. It’s like hitting two birds with a stone, and with the right measures, this project hopes to improve our lives and the lives of the future generation.
PROBLEM
Problem 1: Can bricks be made with plastics, cement, and water?
Problem 2: If it can be done, would it be sturdy?
HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis 1: If plastic wastes are mixed with cement and water, then it would make bricks.
Hypothesis 2: If the product was made with plastic, cement, and water, then it would be sturdy and be proven by having a drop-test and comparing it to the usual bricks.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Making bricks with plastic, cement and water is definitely beneficial to everyone. The researchers clearly stated that this product cannot be used for heavy load-bearing form. Thus, they did this to lessen plastic wastes. It would also be of great help to those who want their light load bearing structures such as fences, canals and walls.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The focus of this research is mainly about how plastic can be used to obtain effective cement. According to the researchers, they have proven effective and useful to reduce plastic wastes, but this is only good for no load bearing. The product is not intended for heavy construction because it is not sturdy enough to hold heavy weight.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW of RELATED LITERATURE
“Hollow Blocks from Plastic”
(Article from BatoBalani Magazine)
It's very hard to avoid using plastic even if we want to. They are simply used in almost everything, from foods and beverages to gadgets and even construction materials. They are actually very useful to us. It's just that they are not exactly environment-friendly. They are one of the biggest contributors to the growing garbage problems and environmental concerns worldwide
In answer to these garbage problems, a local municipality in the province of Rizal started a project of collecting plastics to be used in the manufacture of hollow blocks. The municipality of Teresa in Rizal is currently operating a solid waste management program in Barangay Dalig. Let's find out what makes their program stand out from the others.
How It Started
Back in 2005, then Mayor Rodel de la Cruz instructed his environment officials to put together a 10-year solid waste management program. While in the process of planning, they were approached by a group called Earth Product Philippines. The group introduced to them a recycling system that can turn garbage residue into concrete products. Upon seeing the potential of the proposed system, Mayor de la Cruz contradicted the group to orient municipal and barangay officials about the system for a year. He also ordered the use of a pulverizer for the municipality.The nine barangays of the municipality then set up material recovery facilities (MRFs) over the next few months after the initial planning. The MRFs are small warehouses where garbage could be further segregated. They also had a crew of "eco-boys" who collect trash from households.
Developments and Expansion
By February 2006, they shut down the town's dump to give way to a bigger municipal MRF. By then, the residents already practice segregating their own wastes and sell plastic containers and newspapers. The barangay MRFs built a compost pit where they can dump kitchen wastes such as fruit and vegetable peelings. They also allocated separate boxes for storing biodegradable and non-biodegradable, which they ultimately sell to junkyards.
As for the garbage from markets, a pit was dug near the municipal MRF where market wastes are combined with farm manure to turn it into fertilizer. These are given away to vegetable farmers for free. Since then, they renamed the MRF as Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF).
Turning Plastic into Hollow Blocks
In the new ISWMF, the production of hollow blocks takes place. The plastic waste are first pulverized. Then two sacks of the pulverized plastic are mixed with a bag of cement and 15 pails of sand. The mixture is then poured into a molder. This produces about 140 to 150 hollow blocks. Aside from hollow blocks, they also mold paving bricks, wall cladding, cement tiles, paving blocks, and cement balusters.However, environmentalists have raised concerns regarding the durability of the product. They said plastics aren't perfect for holding construction materials together. According to Marlon Pielago, the chief implementer of the solid waste management program and a municipal environment and natural resources officer, they are well aware of the quality of their products. They are admittedly not as solid as the commercially produced ones, which
are made of pure construction materials. However, he defended that their hollow blocks made with plastic have passed strength tests that are conducted by the Bureau of Product Standards. Their hollow blocks were classified as "no load-bearing" products. This means it can only be used in structures like fences, walls, and canals.At present, the ISWMF are receiving orders of hollow blocks. The Teresa government is also passing the technology on to the barangays so that they can make their own concrete materials. Not only are they able to address the municipality's garbage problem, they opened a business opportunity for the town and the residents as well. “
http://keniaamormanga-saveearth.blogspot.com/2012/06/hollow-blocks-from-plastic.html
Review:
According to the article, Barangay Dalig has found a way to lessen their plastic wastes. Their mayor back then in 2005 has instructed to his officials to put up a 10-year solid waste management program. A group (Earth Product Philippines) introduced to them a system wherein garbage residue can turn into concrete products. Mayor dela Cruz agreed to this and oriented municipal and barangay officials about the system for a year. He also ordered the use of a pulverizer for the municipality. The nine barangays of the municipality then set up material recovery facilities (MRFs) over the next few months after the initial planning. The MRFs are small warehouses where garbage could be further segregated. They also had a crew of "eco-boys" who collect trash from households.By 2006, they shut down the town’s dump to give way to bigger MRF. The residents were also practicing the segregation of plastic. The MRF even built a composite pit for the kitchen wastes. Market wastes were also mixed with manure in a pit to turn it into fertilizer. They give these to vegetable farmers for free and since then, they renamed MRF to Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF). After some time, the production of hollow bricks takes place. They pulverize the plastics first then add these to sand and cement. The mixture is poured into a molder. The product can count up to 140-150 blocks. Environmentalists quickly noticed the durability of these products. According to Marlon Pielago, the chief implementer of the solid waste management program and a municipal environment and natural resources officer, they are well aware of the quality of their products. They are admittedly not as solid as the commercially produced ones, which are made of pure construction materials. However, he defended that their hollow blocks made with plastic have passed strength tests that are conducted by the Bureau of Product Standards. Their hollow blocks were classified as "no load-bearing" products. This means it can only be used in structures like fences, walls, and canals.At present, the ISWMF are receiving orders of hollow blocks. The Teresa government is also passing the technology on to the barangays so that they can make their own concrete materials. Not only are they able to address the municipality's garbage problem, they opened a business opportunity for the town and the residents as well.
“Plastic Concrete: Building Bricks Made From Landfill Waste”
by Trey Farmer
“Recent RPI Masters of Architecture graduate Henry Miller has devised a way to reuse waste plastic as an aggregate in cement, circumventing the energy-intensive process of plastic recycling. By grinding up landfill-bound plastic and mixing it with Portland cement, Miller was able to create a material just as strong as traditional concrete made with mined aggregate. The ingenious solution netted miller first place in the “Component Category” of the second annual Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World competition.Using recycled materials is so hot right now, but using them as aggregate is hotter than Hansel in a black shirt on a summer Sunday. While living in Albany, Miller saw many areas cut their plastic recycling programs for the cheaper (now) solution of landfills, and noticed the astounding number of brownfield sites that were simply being abandoned. Miller’s idea: Why not use plastic waste as an aggregate in concrete and create a more sensible product. By mixing together ground-up plastic with cement and soil reclaimed from the brownfields, Miller was able to create a material just as strong as conventional concrete.The Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World competition only asked students to conceptualize a design, but Miller he was not satisfied with a mere idea. He actually used his plastic concrete to build a screen and a wall. In doing so he showed that his ideas were viable alternatives to the status quo and that there was no excuse to merely fall in line.Describing his project, Henry Louis Miller states: “Recycling plastics is a difficult, energy intensive process, and yields a product that is inferior to the virgin material. I have researched the possibility of using granulated, post-consumer waste plastics as the aggregate in concrete. In this application, unlike plastics can be universally mixed with no adverse effects, heat driven re-amalgamation is not required, and my early test results show the resulting product is as strong as conventional concrete mixes (between 3000 and 5000psi.) As a result of using plastic rather
than conventional aggregate, the mining of new material to serve as aggregate is not necessary.”
http://inhabitat.com/plastic-concrete-repurposes-landfill-waste-into-building-bricks/
Review:
According to the article, Henry Miller has devised a new way of recycling plastic. By adding plastic components into the mixture of Portland cement, it would create a material just as strong as traditional concrete made with mined aggregate.Describing his project, Henry Louis Miller states: “Recycling plastics is a difficult, energy intensive process, and yields a product that is inferior to the virgin material. I have researched the possibility of using granulated, post-consumer waste plastics as the aggregate in concrete. In this application, unlike plastics can be universally mixed with no adverse effects, heat driven re-amalgamation is not required, and my early test results show the resulting product is as strong as conventional concrete mixes (between 3000 and 5000psi.) As a result of using plastic rather than conventional aggregate, the mining of new material to serve as aggregate is not necessary.”
“Plastic waste set in concrete”
by Alexander Hellemans
Because plastic is widely available and not biodegradable, it is a material of choice to include as
a component of light concreteIn Europe more than 12 million tons of mixed plastic waste are dumped on landfills every year, according to a report from NUMIX scientists. The recycling of plastic into usable products has proven difficult. That’s because plastic waste contains many different types of plastic that have to be treated in different ways for recycling. Now, a new method designed to create expanded construction nodules from mixed plastic waste may replace the expanded clay traditionally used in light concrete that is not used for structural part of a building and often contains air bubbles."If you look at the volume of light-weight concrete that is now produced in Europe, we could potentially use all the mixed plastic waste," Alessandra Passaro tells youris.com. He is the coordinator of the EU funded NUMIX programme, which developed the new technology, and a materials engineer at CETMA, a research organization based in Brindisi, Italy.The wide availability of plastic waste an advantage combined with the fact that it is not biodegradable. "We performed a lot of tests to make sure that mixed plastics could be used in concrete," says Passaro, adding that researchers expect that the plastic will survive at least a hundred years.However, promoting the technology, which CETMA patented, has still proven difficult, according to Passaro, despite the fact that:" [this] aggregate has a cost that is similar to the aggregate made with expanded clay," he says. Economic incentives, such as subsidies for recycling mixed plastic waste are lacking or have been cancelled because of the financial crisis, points out Passaro. To their surprise, the researchers found that there is also a psychological barrier to adopting this technology. But there is more interest at the European level for the clay aggregate, because it is viewed as a more sustainable and ecofriendly material. "The presence of European standards that would have taken into account the possibility of using mixed plastic aggregate would have been of help," comments Passaro. Roger Morton, Director of Axion Recycling Ltd, a London, UK-based company that also sells mixed plastic waste to companies that process it further to convert it into high-grade plastic waste and also for the production of fuel, agrees that the introduction of mixed plastic waste in concrete might meet with resistance in the market. "Concrete is a very long-lasting material and people would be nervous about an unknown component that may prove to cause problems," he tells youris.com, “You want a lot of evidence that the material will remain strong and not crack.” But he agrees that the technology is interesting for non-supporting structures.However, there is a need to evaluate the ecological impact and sustainability of using plastic waste in the cement industry. "What we call ‘fluff’, paper and plastic waste, is used as fuel in the production of cement. So we have to find out what is more sustainable: burning the plastic waste or use it as filler in concrete," explains Christian Rech, an engineering consultant at cement manufacturer Cimalux, in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. In addition, the recyclability of concrete matters too. Some local authorities, such as Zürich, require that concrete be recyclable. This means that using plastic filler in concrete will then require extra processing for separating out the plastic. Rech also wonders how the aggregate will behave in case of fire and whether it will affect its resistance against heat. He concludes: "These are all points that still have to be clarified.”
http://www.youris.com/Environment/Recycling/Plastic_Waste_Set_In_Concrete.kl#axzz2gU3pezKs
Review:
According to this article, plastic is widely available an not biodegradable, thus making it as a material of choice in light concrete. Plastic is easily obtained and is also easily dumped. Recycling plastic is difficult because of its different components and way to handle it. But they have come up with a new product. They would create construction nodules from plastic wastes. The wide availability of plastic serves as an advantage for this proposed project. However questions have risen. Is the durability the same as the pure cement and sand? Would it decrease its resistance to heat? There are points that still have to be clarified.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PLASTIC- any wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are mold able. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances.
CEMENT- A binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together.
NO LOAD BEARING- cannot hold heavy weight
STURDY- strong enough to withstand rough work or treatment
PULVERIZE- reduce to fine particles
PULVERIZING MACHINE- a mechanical device for the grinding of many different types of materials.
HOLLOW- an empty space inside of something
CONCRETE- a composite material composed of coarse granular material embedded in a hard matrix of material that fills the space among the aggregate particles and glues them together
LAND FILLED WASTE- to dispose of refuse or reclaim land by filling in low-lying ground
PORTLAND CEMENT- the most common type of cement in general use around the world
CHAPTER III
Methodology
The sample used in this research is brick. This brick is neither good looking nor sturdy but it helps lessen plastic wastes in our environment. The researcher did this brick with the use of cement, water, and of course, plastic wastes. The cement is the main ingredient in doing the product. And they only included water to mix the powdered materials and the plastic wastes. The materials were obtained by the examiners with the help of their acquaintance who gave it to them for free. This investigatory project is both research and experimental. The results were gathered through comparing the real cement brick with their product and having a drop test.
MATERIALS
· Cement
· Containers
· Plastic wastes
· Materials for pulverizing plastics (scissors, blade)
· Water
PROCEDURE
What the researchers did first was obtain their cement and water. Specifically, the examiners used a cup of cement and a half cup of water. After that, they pulverized the plastics which was a 1.5 liter bottle. This took a lot of time. But after that, they mixed the plastics and the cement together. They mixed this with water thus making the wet form of cement. After this, they left it to mold and harden.
Chapter IV
Results and Discussion
PROPERTIES OF THE PRODUCT
Was the product sturdy?
RESULT
The product was NOT sturdy.
Was the product easily made?
RESULT
The product was simple to make, but takes time to harden.
Was the product good-looking or acceptable to the sight?
RESULT
Some of the plastics may be seen, but only little.
Interpretation of Data:
As the researchers make the product, several questions were asked. One of these is the sturdiness of the cement. It was not sturdy because a crack appeared on the product and it was easily broken. The researchers also did a test drop of 4 feet, and it broke easily.. Another question is the ease of making it. The cement, like ordinary cement mixture, was easy to make and took only the normal precautions. What took a long time though was the time for drying the product. The last question would be its physical attributes. The cement was molded but few plastics may still be seen.
ANALYSIS
“If plastic wastes are mixed with cement, sand, &water, then it would make cement/ bricks, but it would not be as sturdy as the usual brick..”
CONCLUSION
They have successfully created bricks with cement, water and plastic. It was, however, not sturdy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To everyone who would do this research in the future, the researchers recommend the use of pulverizing machine because the results would be better. They should also use a molder for more enhanced appearance.
Bibliography:
“Hollow Blocks from Plastic”
http://keniaamormanga-saveearth.blogspot.com/2012/06/hollow-blocks-from-plastic.html
“Plastic Concrete: Building Bricks Made From Landfill Waste”
http://inhabitat.com/plastic-concrete-repurposes-landfill-waste-into-building-bricks
“Plastic waste set in concrete”
http://www.youris.com/Environment/Recycling/Plastic_Waste_Set_In_Concrete.kl#axzz2gU3pezKs