Structural use of polymer concrete made with resins based on recycled PET

Book · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:86264

Rebeiz, K S ^[1]; Fowler, D W ^[2]

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1. Lafayette College, Easton, PA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering

Recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, plastic waste can be used to produce unsaturated polyester resins. The PET waste is typically found in used beverage bottles that are collected after use in many localities. This research investigated the use of suitable unsaturated polyester resins based on recycled PET for the production of polymer concrete (PC) materials. The properties and structural behavior of unreinforced and steel-reinforced PC materials using resins based on recycled PET were found to be comparable to those obtained with PC materials using virgin resins. Resins based on recycled PET can also relatively easily be altered to achieve a wide variety of properties and performances in the PC. An experimental design also showed that the effect of the level of PET in the resin did not adversely affect the neat resin and the PC mechanical properties. Resins based on recycled PET help in decreasing the cost of PC products, saving energy, and alleviating an environmental problem posed by plastics waste.

• OSTI ID: 86264
• Report Number(s): CONF-950116--; ISBN 0-7918-1295-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CONCRETES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
POLYESTERS
SHRINKAGE
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION