Durability Assessment and Microstructure of High-Strength Performance Bricks Produced from PET Waste and Foundry Sand

Fired clay brickwork in buildings is prone to cracks and deterioration upon exposure to long-time acidic contamination and water absorption, hence decreasing the bearing capacity of masonry walls. As its contribution toward resolving this challenge, this study assessed the durability and morphologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials 2021-09, Vol.14 (19), p.5635
Main Authors: Aneke, Frank Ikechukwu, Awuzie, Bankole Osita, Mostafa, Mohamed M. H., Okorafor, Chikezirim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregates
Bearing capacity
Bricks
Brickwork
Clay
Compression tests
Concrete
Construction industry
Durability
Foundry sands
High density polyethylenes
High strength
Landfill
Masonry
Morphology
Polyethylene terephthalate
Sustainable development
Waste materials
Water absorption
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Summary:Fired clay brickwork in buildings is prone to cracks and deterioration upon exposure to long-time acidic contamination and water absorption, hence decreasing the bearing capacity of masonry walls. As its contribution toward resolving this challenge, this study assessed the durability and morphological characteristics of high-strength performance bricks produced from a mixture of PET waste (PW) and foundry sand (FS). The PET waste bricks (PWBs) were produced through different proportioning (PW: FS) of 20%, 30%, and 40% of the dry mass of FS. The PWBs produced were tested for durability and compressive and tensile strengths and compared to fired clay bricks to evaluate their load-bearing capacity under compression and tension. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were employed to analyze the morphological structure of the bricks. The test results revealed that the PWBs recorded an appreciable strength of 1.5–2 times that of fired clay bricks, and lower water absorption whilst retaining their ultimate strengths after complete immersion in water and acidic concentrations. The morphology of PWB possessed greater intercluster bonds on the surface compared to clay bricks. The findings demonstrate a reasonable methodological approach toward the production of masonry bricks using a mixture of PET waste and spent foundry sands.
ISSN:1996-1944
1996-1944
DOI:10.3390/ma14195635