A Step towards Sustainable Concrete with Substitution of Plastic Waste in Concrete: Overview on Mechanical, Durability and Microstructure Analysis

TLDR

Plastic production has surged, creating large waste streams that researchers are exploring as eco‑friendly concrete components, though data on their behavior remain fragmented. This study investigates incorporating plastic waste as aggregate or fiber in cement mortar and concrete. The authors evaluated fresh properties, mechanical strength, and durability of concrete with plastic waste, and examined PW–cement interfaces using scanning electron microscopy. Results show plastic waste fibers improve mechanical performance, whereas as coarse aggregate they weaken concrete because of poor bonding, highlighting research gaps for future improvement.

Abstract

Plastics have become an essential part of our daily lives, and global plastic production has increased dramatically in the past 50 years. This has significantly increased the amount of plastic garbage produced. Researchers have recently been interested in using trash and recyclable plastics in concrete as an ecologically acceptable building material. A large number of publications have been published that describe the behavior of concrete, containing waste and recovered plastic com ponents. However, information is scattered, and no one knows how plastic trash behaves as concrete materials. This research examines the use of plastic waste (PW) as aggregate or fiber in cement mortar and concrete manufacturing. The article reviewed the three most significant features of concrete: fresh properties, mechanical strength, and durability. PW and cement connections were also studied using microstructure analysis (scan electronic microscopy). The results showed that PW, as a fiber, enhanced mechanical performance, but PW, as a coarse aggregate, impaired concrete performance owing to poor bonding. The assessment also identified research needs in order to enhance the performance of PW-based concrete in the future.