Strength Properties of Paving Stone Composites with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as Total Cement Replacement

Abstract

This study is on the strength properties of paving stone composites with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste as total cement replacement. The PET wastes were melted and mixed with river sand to form paving stone composites (PSCs) of PET-sand mix ratio of 1:3, labelled (PET: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%); and sand-cement mix of 1:3 labelled PET 0% as the control. Three replicates of PSCs of each mix ratio and control, were casted in a mold measuring 50mm × 100mm × 200mm, cured for 28 days. Each sample were then tested for density and compressive strength and their mean values were determined. The results showed that the control had highest mean value of 2160 kg/m3 and the mean densities of the PSCs range from 1860 kg/m3 to 1670 kg/m3. All the PSCs samples showed impressive compressive strengths with PET 30 % having highest mean value of 20.59 N/mm2 while the control had the least mean compressive strength of 8.63 N/mm2. Analysis of variance shows that the inequality observed between PSCs mean values for density and compressive strength and the control were significant at 95 percent confidence level. It can therefore be concluded that PET waste can be used as total cement replacement in the production of paving

stones for pedestrian path and residential parking lot.