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Recycling of Waste Plastic for the Production of Road Interlocking Paving
Stone in Nigeria
Article in Journal of Engineering Research and Reports · December 2022
DOI: 10.9734/jerr/2022/v23i12785
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University of Lagos University of Lagos
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Journal of Engineering Research and Reports
Volume 23, Issue 12, Page 296-301, 2022; Article no.JERR.94313
ISSN: 2582-2926
Recycling of Waste Plastic for the
Production of Road Interlocking
Paving Stone in Nigeria
Praise Onimisi Dawodu a*, Apata Akindele a
and Udeme Imoh a
a
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Authors’ contributions
This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author POD helped
in conceptualization, performed methodology and wrote the original draft of the manuscript. Author AA
reviewed the article. Author UI wrote and edited the original draft of the manuscript. All authors read
and approved the final manuscript.
Article Information
DOI: 10.9734/JERR/2022/v23i12785
Open Peer Review History:
This journal follows the Advanced Open Peer Review policy. Identity of the Reviewers, Editor(s) and additional Reviewers,
peer review comments, different versions of the manuscript, comments of the editors, etc are available here:
https://www.sdiarticle5.com/review-history/94313
Received: 17/10/2022
Original Research Article Accepted: 21/12/2022
Published: 22/12/2022
ABSTRACT
As the demand for construction materials increases, the need to find alternative construction
materials that are readily available and cheaper is imperative. This research attempts to explore the
recycling of waste plastic as a complete replacement for the Portland cement used in the
production of pavement interlocking paving stones.
Three specimens were produced, by varying the ratio of the waste plastic with the fine and coarse
aggregates. The content of melted waste plastic in specimens A, B, and C was 33%, 29%, and
20% respectively. The specimens were crushed to determine their compressive strength. Specimen
2,
A having 33% melted waste plastic had the highest compressive strength of 25.7 N/mm For
effective binding with the aggregates, the melted waste plastic should not be less than 30% of the
mixture.
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J. Eng. Res. Rep., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 296-301, 2022
Dawodu et al.; J. Eng. Res. Rep., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 296-301, 2022; Article no.JERR.94313
Keywords: Waste plastic; interlocking paving stone; compressive strength.
1. INTRODUCTION most dynamic sectors to lessen the volume of
disposed trash and their associated gas
Interlocking paving stones are made from emissions. Numerous programs have been
Portland cement, fine and coarse aggregates, devised to recycle post-consumer products, such
and these interlocking stones are used for the as plastic trash, into various construction
construction of roads. Pavements made from materials [4].
interlocking stones though made of rigid
pavement materials, function as flexible Generally, the use of plastics for civil engineering
pavement, this is primarily because the vehicular may have so negative impacts on the
load on the pavement is transferred to a smaller environment, which could include pollution, fire,
surface area of the subgrade while rigid toxic and other hazards [3].
pavements transfer loads to a smaller surface
area on the subgrade and this has shown it to be Recycling plastic waste to produce interlocking
relatively durable [1]. paving stones would be a plus to the construction
industry as it will significantly reduce the cost,
Some other benefits of interlocking paving stones and subsequently promote a healthier,
include their environmental sustainability, due to sustainable environment [5].
their porous nature, it allows surface water easily
drain off, and as such can be used in marshy 2. METHODOLOGY
areas, the construction process is also easy and
faster, compared to other pavements it requires 2.1 Research Flow Chat
low maintenance.
Fig. 1 shows the research flow.
Interlocking paving stones are used for car parks,
walkways, driveways, arterial roads, and 2.2 Materials and Tools
collector and local roads [2].
Materials used for this work include sand,
Of the main components of interlocking paving granite, waste plastic (empty cement bags),
stones, Portland cement plays a major role in Tools: steel mold, tamping rod, trowel, shovel,
binding the other components together and also weighing scale, steel drum, head pans, and fire
is responsible for the chemical reaction that setup.
forms the paving stone and defines its strength.
2.3 Batching
In Nigeria, cement is one of the heavily used
construction materials that are not readily Three specimens were prepared, of which
available and thus making it expensive, and specimen A, specimen B, and specimen C
hence the need for readily available alternatives. contained 33%, 29%, and 20% melted waste
plastic respectively. The batching of the
This research attempts to proffer an alternative to specimens was done in the ratios of; melted
Portland cement using melted waste plastics for waste plastic to sand to granite, of which
the production of interlocking paving stones. The specimen A was in the ratio of 1:1:1, specimen B
waste plastic being considered are in the ratio of 1:1:1.5, and specimen C in the ratio
thermoplastics such as polyethylenes, and of 1:1.5:2.5. Fig. 2 shows the component
nylons, which can be melted and remolded, materials used.
owing to their elastic property and ability to be
melted and solidify thereafter, they can serve as 2.4 Procedure
a binder for interlocking paving stone
aggregates. The melted waste plastic, sand, and granite were
measured using a digital scale to the defined
Presently, about 400 million tonnes of waste is weights by the mix ratio, after which the heating
produced yearly, throughout the world [3]. setup was made and the steel drum was placed
on it to heat up. Then the waste plastic bags are
One of the most crucial measures available to placed in the drum to melt, thereafter the sand
lessen the environmental effect of plastic waste and the granite are added, then this is mixed
is recycling, which also stands for one of the thoroughly till it forms a molten paste. The paste
297
Dawodu et al.; J. Eng. Res. Rep., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 296-301, 2022; Article no.JERR.94313
is then placed into steel molds of dimensions completely, which is usually between 24 hours.
(200mm x 100mm x 80mm) that have been oiled, [6].
then it is compacted, and left to cure for a few
hours before demolding. [6] Fig. 3 show 2.6 Compressive Strength Test
interlocking paving stone made from waste
plastics. The compressive strength test was conducted to
obtain the strength of each of the three
2.5 Curing
specimens. This test was carried out when the
This was allowed to air dry for 3 days, although it specimens were fully cured. Fig. 4 shows the test
attains optimum strength when it cools setup.
Fig. 1. Research flow chat
Fig. 2. Component materials: From left to right: sand, melted waste plastics, and granite
298
Dawodu et al.; J. Eng. Res. Rep., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 296-301, 2022; Article no.JERR.94313
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION further reduced to 7.9 N/mm2 when the percent
of the melted waste plastic was reduced from
Compressive strength determination of the 29% to 20%. Concrete cement Interlocking
specimens is pivotal to this research because it paving stones usually have a compressive
is the index by which the deductions of the strength that varies from 15 N/mm2 to 28 N/mm2
research will be drawn. Fig. 5 shows that as the for international standards [7], specimen A has a
percentage of the melted waste plastic in the compressive strength of 25.7 N/mm2 and thus is
specimen is reduced, the compressive strength within the limits. These results are consistent
also reduces, the compressive strength of with results obtained by the study carried out by
specimen A reduced from 25.7 N/mm2 to 10.6 Lukman Salami on the mechanical performance
N/mm2 when the ratio of melted waste plastic of interlocking paving stones using dissolved
was reduced from 33% to 29%, the strength waste plastics [8].
Fig. 3. Interlocking paving stone made from waste plastics
Fig. 4. Crushing of specimens
Table 1. Compressive strength results
Specimen Percentage of Mix ratio Weight Compressive
2
melted waste (melted waste: (KG) strength (N/mm )
plastic (%) plastic:sand:granite)
Specimen A 33 1:1:1 3.05 25.7
Specimen B 29 1:1:1.5 3.95 10.6
Specimen C 20 1:1.5:2.5 4.03 7.9
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Dawodu et al.; J. Eng. Res. Rep., vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 296-301, 2022; Article no.JERR.94313
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (N/mm2)
30
25
20
15
10
0
33 PERCENTAGE MELTED
29 WASTE PLASTIC (%) 20
Fig. 5. Compressive strength of interlocking paving stones made from melted waste plastic
4. CONCLUSION specimens, however, it is recommended that for
best results, advanced techniques are used for
The purpose of this research is to explore the the production of these interlocking paving
use of melted waste plastic as an alternative to stones. Also, there is a need to consider other
the use of Portland cement for the production of aspects as water absorption, resistance to
interlocking paving stones, in the bid to recycle abrasion, and the effect of fire, on the
plastic. The following conclusion was drawn from interlocking stones made from this method.
this study;
COMPETING INTERESTS
1. As the percentage of melted waste plastic
increases, the strength of the interlocking
paving stone increases. Authors have declared that no competing
2. Interlocking paving stones made from 33 interests exist.
% of melted waste plastic give a
compressive strength of 25N/mm2 which REFERENCES
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© 2022 Dawodu et al.; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
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provided the original work is properly cited.
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