Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly ash: mechanical properties and durability

Taiwo O. Omosebi; Noor Faisal Abass

doi:10.12688/f1000research.53514.1

Home Browse Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly...

ALL Metrics

-

Views

-

Downloads

Get PDF

Get XML

Export

▬

✚

Research Article

Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly ash: mechanical properties and durability

[version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations]

Taiwo O. Omosebi ^1,2, Noor Faisal Abass¹

PUBLISHED 10 Nov 2021

Author details Author details

¹ School of Housing, Building and Planning, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA, Pinang, Penang, +6016, Malaysia
² Building Technology Department, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ADO, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti, +234, Nigeria

Taiwo O. Omosebi
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation

Noor Faisal Abass
Roles: Data Curation, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing

OPEN PEER REVIEW

REVIEWER STATUS

Abstract

Background: Plastic waste (PW) is becoming increasingly hazardous to the environment as a result of its massive production, causing significant damage to both the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Managing plastic waste is a global concern due to its non-biodegradable nature. However, it is important to handle PWs properly to curtail the environmental emissions associated with their incineration and dumping into landfills. This research investigates the possibility of producing tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottles and fly ash. The mechanical properties, as well as the chemical resistance of the manufactured PET polymer tiles, are reported in this study.
Methods: PET waste was used in varying proportions (from 30% to 100%) by sand weight. The shredded PET waste was heated at 230 ^oC before being suitably blended with fly ash. It was then poured into the designated mold, removed after one hour, and cooled for 24 hours before testing.
Results: The assessment of the physical and mechanical properties of the materials revealed that the tiles produced with 30% PET content performed better in terms of material density and strength compared to the samples with higher PET content. The highest compressive strength being 6.88 MPa. Based on the results of the tests, the produced PET tiles have a low water absorption efficiency of 80% lower when compare to cement and ceramic tiles (the water absorption values are between 0.98% and 0.09%).
Conclusions: The results from this study indicate that PET waste bottles can be used to produce long-lasting, durable, and extremely low water absorption eco-friendly tiles for both residential and commercial applications. This prospect of tile production using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste and fly ash would not only minimize the cost of building products but will also act as a waste diversion to mitigate environmental emissions caused by plastic waste disposal.

Keywords

plastic wastes, pollution, aggregates, mechanical properties, polymer tiles

Corresponding author: Taiwo O. Omosebi

Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information: The authors equally appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for TETFUND granted to the student authors. 
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Copyright: © 2021 Omosebi TO and Abass NF. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite: Omosebi TO and Abass NF. Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly ash: mechanical properties and durability [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:1139 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.53514.1) First published: 10 Nov 2021, 10:1139 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.53514.1) Latest published: 10 Nov 2021, 10:1139 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.53514.1)

Introduction

Plastic is a synthetic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer; it can either be a thermoplastic or thermosetting material. Thermoplastic is a plastic material that can soften upon heating and harden when cooled; hence, it can be molded into different shapes. Thermosetting materials cannot be remelted when they solidify; they are mainly used as Bakelite.¹ Plastics are in common use due to their lightweight, soft nature, flexibility, non-corrosiveness, and durability. Plastics are comfortable packing materials and containers but wastes from plastics are a major cause of environmental pollution; they emit poisonous gases upon incineration and are not biodegradable.² Plastic materials are reportedly carcinogenic as they contain chlorine and other carcinogens. The burning of plastic waste produces toxic gases such as phosgene, carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other deadly dioxins that are harmful to the environment. Since plastic wastes account for the highest percentage of waste produced globally, there is a need to ensure proper management of such waste.^3,4 Plastics are commonly used as packing materials, but their wastes can be used in the construction industries to produce construction materials, such as floor tiles, roof tiles, building blocks, etc. This can reduce construction costs and minimize environmental pollution. For instance, plastic wastes can be mixed with sand and other additives to produce constructional materials.⁵ Presently, recycled plastic wastes are gradually replacing natural materials such as fiber, metal, wood/timber, and sand, thereby preserving the natural environment. Proper management of solid wastes through recycling into new products will help to promote a sustainable environment, conservation of natural resources, and cheap raw materials.⁴ On the other hand, the lack of adequate management of solid wastes will add to the existing environmental problem; hence, solid wastes must be properly managed by recycling them into new useful products.⁶ Being that plastic wastes cannot decompose easily and are produced in huge quantities, their deposition into landfills may not be a permanent solution.^7,8

Recycling is currently not an easy management strategy for plastic materials because it is a labor and capital-intensive process.⁹ Previously, plastics were considered environmentally friendly materials that save energy, reduce raw material extraction, and fight climate change. However, the rate of plastic waste generation has increased tremendously, and management has become a serious issue. Consequently, researchers have suggested the use of plastic wastes in concrete production for two major reasons: first, to resolve the environmental problem associated with their disposal and second, to reduce construction costs since they are available in great quantities.⁹ Cement is generally used as a binder in the construction industry; however, the high cost of cement has prevented many people from building their houses and has hindered the advancement of the construction sector.^10,11 Hence, it is important to find a suitable replacement for this expensive and essential building material.^12,13

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are now used as binders in the manufacture of a wide range of building materials, including tiles. Shredded plastic waste is a recycled material that has received a lot of attention in the construction industry.¹¹ Several studies have documented the potential suitability of plastic waste as construction materials. For example, Mehdi et al.¹⁴ reported that high-density polythene (HDPE) plastics can be used to make roof tiles when combined with sand. The results of their study revealed that composite tiles made with 70% HDPE had better performance and quality after analysis. Several experimental studies on the use of recycled PET bottles as a substitute for natural aggregates in concrete have recently been published,¹⁴ and as resin in polymer concrete.¹⁵ Akinwumi et al.¹⁶ documented the production of stabilized soil blocks from shredded plastic waste and their study opined that 1% finely shredded PET waste (size 6.3 microns) by weight could be used for successful block stabilization. Mustafa et al. [2019], investigated the use of PET waste as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in the production of high-impact resistance building materials. The impact resistance increased by 39% in mortars made with a 20% plastic material. Kumi-Larbi et al.¹⁷ reported the successful production of sand blocks using plastic waste and the findings of their study revealed that solid and durable sand blocks can be produced without the use of extra water, using only plastic waste.

Yang et al.¹⁸ also investigated the feasibility of producing eco-friendly door panels by combining plastic waste with wood dust. In a particular study, Al-Hadithi and Hilal²¹ used shredded PET waste to make roof tiles and discovered that the compressive strength of the sample decreased as the PET volume increased. Borg et al.²⁰ used PET fibers in concrete and discovered that at higher PET fiber contents, PET fibers significantly decreased the compressive strength of the sample. Al-Hadithi and Hilal²¹ tested the use of plastic waste fibers in the construction of self-compacting concrete and discovered that the compressive strength of the sample increased as the plastic waste content increased. This study aims to examine the viability of utilizing PET waste as a binder in full replacement of cement to produce tiles. The main objectives of this study are to evaluate the possibility of recycling PET waste to produce tiles, as well as to examine the physical and mechanical performance of the PET polymer tiles.

Methods

Materials

The materials used in making the composite tiles were sourced locally; the locally sourced materials included plastic wastes, metal mold, wood stirrer, sieve, hand gloves, coal pot, face mask, and engine oil. The PET wastes used in this study were shredded plastic bottle wastes collected from a Waste Resource Management Company located at 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. The fly ash used was supplied to the School of Housing, Building, and Planning Resource Laboratory, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The shredded PET wastes were heated and melted inside an aluminum pot at a temperature of 230 °C before the addition of fine dried fly ash into the melted plastic wastes at different percentages. The mixture was homogenized and poured into a 5 cm thick iron mold that had been lubricated with engine oil for easy removal. The edge of the mold was banged continuously for proper compression. After one hour, the samples were de-molded, cooled, and cured at ambient temperature for forty-eight hours before testing (see Table 1). Table 2 shows the chemical composition of the obtained fly ash. The following chemicals: acetone, benzene, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid (HCl), carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), sodium carbonate, and sodium chloride were used and supplied by the School of Housing, Building, and Planning to determine the chemical tolerance of the polymer tiles produced.

Table 1. Different contents of PET waste and Fly ash used in this study.

Sample	PET waste content (wt. %)	Fly ash content (wt. %)
PT1	30	70
PT2	50	50
PT3	70	30
PT4	90	10
PT5	100	0

Table 2. Chemical composition of fly ash used.

Composition	Mass percentage
SiO₂	58.60
Al₂O₃	24.01
Fe₂O₃	6.35
CaO	4.28
MgO	1.74
K₂O	2.46
TiO₂	0.85
Na₂O	1.71

Characterization

The compressive strength of plastic composite tiles was determined using the Instron Universal Testing Machine (UTM 5967) (Instron Norwood, USA) and the ASTM D638 specification which involved casting of the homogenously mixed PET paste and fly ash into a standard cube for compression testing of size 50 × 50 × 50 mm. Samples with lengths of 50 mm, widths of 50 mm, and thicknesses of 50 mm were prepared for strength testing for this test, the samples were tested on the Instron Universal Machine after de-molding and cooling for 48 hours at room temperature to determine their compressive strength.

The chemical resistance test was performed on the samples in accordance with ASTM D543-14 by cutting the sample tiles into 20 × 20 × 20 mm sizes and soaking them in a different chemical solution for a period of seven days. The purpose of this test was to evaluate the sample’s resistance to various chemical reagents. The chemicals used for this study were acetone, benzene, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid (HCl), carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), sodium carbonate, and sodium chloride with 5% dilution.

Furthermore, the ASTM D570 standard method was used to determine the relative water absorption rate of the polymer tiles sample after immersion in water for 72 hours. The percentage change in weight of the sample was calculated and recorded, all experiments were carried out at room temperature.

The flexural strength of the PET polymer tiles was determined using ASTM D 72-64-15. For the testing, three prismoids measuring 40 × 40 × 160 mm³ were made from each batch of PET polymer paste. The prism specimen was placed on the ELE International Flexural Testing Machine loading frame with the assurance that the specimen to be examined is centered and parallel with the two longitudinal levers located below and above the machine arms. The specimens were subjected to bending tests using a bending test machine loaded at a continuous rate of 50 N/s until they failed, and the failure load was recorded. The ultimate flexural strength was calculated by taking the average of three specimens from the same batch.

The average density of tile specimens was discovered by taking the measurement of the weight of sample of the polymer tiles and the diameter of the specimen. The polymer tile is prepared and poured into a prism cube size 50 × 50 mm. Three to five samples of each mix are selected for the test. The weight of each sample was recorded. The density was calculated using the equation:

\frac{j}{d^{3}} \times 1000^{3} (kg / m^{3})

Where j is the sample weight and d is the diameter of the sample size.

While the porosity was measured in accordance with the RILEM guidelines.²² Cylinder specimens with diameters of 50 mm and heights varying from 35 to 40 mm were cast. The samples were dried in an oven for 78 hours at 105 ± 2 degrees Celsius. They were then cooled in a desiccator for 24 hours. The weight of the oven dried samples was calculated and denoted as Wd. The sample was then placed in a dissector filled with de-aired and de-ionized water until it was completely immersed in water. The samples were held under a steady vacuum for 78 hours before being allowed to equilibrate. The weight of the samples was determined in both the air (Wa) and the water (Ww). The absolute porosity, P for the samples is calculated using:

P (%) = \frac{Wa - Wd}{Wa - Ww} \times 100

Results and discussion

Water absorption

PET polymer tiles produced with 30% PET and 70% fly ash achieved the highest value (0.98%) while those produced with 100 PET and 90% PET + 10% fly ash presented the lowest values (see Figure 1). This means that the water absorption of the PET polymer tiles is directly a function of the PET content but inversely related to the fly ash content.

Figure 1. Water absorption of the composite tile samples.

Density

The density of the PET polymer tile was determined, and the result showed PT1, PT2, PT3, PT4, and PT5 (Table 1) are 1688, 1575.2, 1370.4, 1181.6, and 1070.3 kg/m³ respectively. The PET polymer tiles produced with 100% PET had the lowest density (1070.3 kg/m³) while those produced with 30% PET content had the highest density (1688.0 kg/m³) as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, increases in the PET content decreased the density of the PET polymer tile. Notably, other studies previously indicated that an increase in PET content reduced the density of the resulting composites.^19,23

Figure 2. Density of the composite tile samples.

Porosity

The PET plastic composites produced with 30% PET content presented the highest porosity value (4.14%) while those containing 90% PET achieved the lowest porosity value of 0.39% (see Figure 3). The porosity values fall consistently as the fly ash percentage decreases, yet the percent porosity of PT 5, which contains pure PET (no fly ash), is higher than PT 3 and PT 4, which contain 30% and 10% fly ash, respectively. This means that the presence of fly ash in the PET tiles has an effect on the porosity value of the PET polymer tiles but should not exceed 10% in a particular mix. Rilem²³ made a similar observation.

Figure 3. Porosity of the composite tile samples.

Compressive strength

PET composite that contains 100% PET exhibited the lowest compressive strength value (0.012 MPa) while those produced with 30% PET content had the highest compressive strength value (6.88 MPa) as shown in Figure 4. The compressive strength values (6.88, 5.49, 4.36, 2.94, and 0.012 MPa respectively) steadily increased with the fly ash content but decreased with increasing PET content. The results show that increasing the PET waste content reduces the compressive strength of the composite.^18,19,21,23

Figure 4. Compressive strength of the composite tile samples.

Flexural strength

The flexural strength of the PET polymer tiles was calculated in accordance with ASTM D 72-64-15, and the results are shown in Figure 5. The sample with 100% PET content had the lowest flexural strength, while the sample with 30% PET content had the highest (6.75 MPa). This shows that the flexural strength improved as PET content decreased but increased as fly ash content increased. Because of this behavioral adjustment, the flexural strength of the PET polymer tile is dependent on the PET material. A similar observation was also previously reported and showed that flexural strength decreased as the amount of plastic waste in a structure increased.^19–21

Figure 5. Flexural strength of the composite tile samples.

Chemical resistance

Chemical resistance tests were performed on the samples in accordance with ASTM D543-14 guidelines. The samples were prepared with length = 20 mm, width = 20 mm, and thickness = 10 mm, then weighed and immersed in various chemicals: hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), acetone, benzene, acetic acid, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). The experiment was carried out at room temperature for 168 hours. Following the soaking time, the samples were removed, rinsed with distilled water, and air-dried before measuring the weight and dimensions of the soaked samples and comparing them to the weight and size of the non-soaked samples. Comparative findings revealed no significant changes in sample weights or measurements after seven days of soaking in different chemicals; this finding is consistent with Dhawan et al.²³

Conclusions

Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions were reached:

• A higher PET content in the tile reduces water absorption. The percentage of water absorption decreased from 0.98% to 0.1%.
• Samples with 100% PET content had the lowest average density (1070.3 kg/m³), while samples with 30% PET content had the highest density (1688.0 kg/m³). When compared to control samples, density increased steadily with increasing fly ash content but decreased with an increasing percentage of PET waste.
• The compressive and flexural strength of the PET polymer tiles decreased as the PET content increased. The compressive strength decreased from 6.88 MPa for samples with 30% PET content to 0.012 MPa for samples with 100% PET content, while the flexural strength decreased from 6.75 MPa for samples with 30% PET content to 0 (brittle) for samples with 100% and 90% PET content.
• PET polymer tile tolerance in different chemical solutions has been demonstrated, with no significant changes in weight or dimensions found after seven days of soaking in different chemicals.

These results from this study indicate that PET waste bottles can be used to produce long-lasting, good strength, minimal water absorption, and eco-friendly tiles for both residential and commercial applications. This prospect of tile production using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste and fly ash would not only minimize the cost of building products but will also act as a waste diversion to mitigate environmental emissions caused by plastic waste disposal.

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Dean of the School of Housing, Building, and Planning, Universiti of Sains Malaysia for providing materials needed for this research.

Data availability

All data underlying the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are required.

References

1. Akçaözoğlu S: Evaluation of waste plastics as recycled plastic composite materials. J Waste Management. Edorium; 2015; Vol. 1, pp. 16–19. Publisher Full Text
2. Taiwo O, O, Abas NF: Mechanical Properties and Durability of PET waste Aggregates in Roof Tiles Production. Int J Recent Technol Eng . 2021; 9(5): 300–304. Publisher Full Text
3. Wahid SA, Rawi SM, Desa NM: Utilization of Plastic Bottle Waste in Sand Bricks. J Basic Appl Sci Res. 2015; 5(1): 35–44. 2090-4304.
4. Sadiq MM, Khattak MR: An Overview of Plastic Waste Management. J Emerging Technol Innovative Res (JETIR). Delhi: Plastic Waste Management Institutes, Central Pollution Control Board; 1999; 2(6). Publisher Full Text
5. Anslem EO, Eneh: Application of Recycled Plastics and Its Components in the Built Environment. BEST: Int J Management. Delhi: Information Technology and Engineering; 2015; Vol. 3, Issue 3, pp. 9–16. 2348-0513.
6. Shiri ND, Varun Kajava P, Ranjan HV, et al.: Processing of Waste Plastics into Building Materials Using a Plastic Extruder and Compression Testing of Plastic Bricks. J Mech Eng Automation. 2015; 5(3B): 39–42. Publisher Full Text
7. Patil PS, Mali JR, Tapkire GV, et al.: Innovative techniques of waste plastic used in concrete. J Mech Eng Auto. 2015; 5: 1800–1803. Publisher Full Text
8. EPA 430-R-11-005: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: (1990–2009). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency homepage. U.S.; 2011. Reference Source
9. Melik B, Habib T, Asroun A: Properties of Waste Tire Rubber Powder. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res. 2014; 4(4): 669–672. Publisher Full Text
10. Konin A: Use of plastic wastes as a binding material in the manufacture of tiles: a case study of wastes with a basis of polypropylene. Material structures J RILEM. 2011; 1381–1387. Publisher Full Text
11. Laryea S, Agypong SA, Leiringer R, et al.: 4th West African Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference (pp. 1231-1237).Abuja, Nigeria: West African Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference.
12. Ramaraj AP, Nagammal AN: Exploring the Current Practices of Post-Consumer PET Bottles and The Innovative Applications as A Sustainable Building Material. 30th International Plea Conference. Ahmedabad: Cept University Press; 2014; pp. 16–18.
13. Velumani P, Karthik SG: Development of Eco-Friendly Pressed Roof Tiles: A Prologue Study. Int J Sci Eng Res. 2017; 8(12): 2030–2033.
14. Harini BV: Use of Recycled Plastic Waste as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in Concrete. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering, and Technology. 2015; pp. 85–96. Publisher Full Text
15. Niaki MH, Fereidoon A, Ahangari MG: Effect of Basalt, Silica Sand and Fly Ash on the Mechanical Properties of Quaternary Polymer Concretes. Bull. Mater. Sci. 2018; 41: 69 © Indian Academy of Sciences. Publisher Full Text
16. Akinwumi II, Domo-spiff AH, Salami A: Case Studies Construction Materials Marine plastic pollution and affordable housing challenge: shredded waste plastic stabilized soil for producing compressed earth bricks. Case Stud. Constr, Mater. 2019; 11. e00241. Publisher Full Text
17. Kumi-Larbi A, Yunana D, Kamsoulounm P, et al.: Recycling waste plastics in developing contries: use of low-density polyethylene water sachets to form plastic bonded sand blocks. Waste Manag. 2018; 80: 112–118. Publisher Full Text
18. Yang Y, Boom R, Irion B, et al.: Recycling of composite materials. Chem. Eng. Process. Process Intensif. 2012; 51: 53–68. Publisher Full Text
19. Bamigboye GO, Adedeji AA, Olukanni DO, et al.: Reliability of Gravel in Place of Granite in Concrete Production. J Eng Appl Sci . 2017; 12(20): 5121–5128. Publisher Full Text
20. Borg RP, Baldacchino O, Ferrara L: Early age performance and mechanical characteristics of recycled PET fiber reinforced concrete. Construction and Building Materials. 2016; 108. pp. 29–47. Reference Source
21. AL-Hadithi AI, Hilal NN: The possibility of enhancing some properties of self-compacting concrete by adding waste plastic fibres. J Buil Eng. 2016; 8A: 20–28. Publisher Full Text
22. Rilem C: 11.3. Absorption of water by immersion under vacuum. Mater Struct . 1984; 17(101): 391–394.
23. Dhawan, Bisht BMS, Rajeev Kumar, et al.: Recycling of plastic waste into tiles with reduced flammability and improved tensile strength. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 2019; 124: 299–307. Advanced Engineering, 2(6), pp. 42–46. Publisher Full Text

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 1

VERSION 1 PUBLISHED 10 Nov 2021

Author details Author details

¹ School of Housing, Building and Planning, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA, Pinang, Penang, +6016, Malaysia
² Building Technology Department, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ADO, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti, +234, Nigeria

Taiwo O. Omosebi
Roles: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation

Noor Faisal Abass
Roles: Data Curation, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing

Competing interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information

The authors equally appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for TETFUND granted to the student authors. 
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Article Versions (1)

version 1

Published: 10 Nov 2021, 10:1139

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.53514.1

Copyright

© 2021 Omosebi TO and Abass NF. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Download

Export To

metrics

	Views	Downloads
F1000Research	-	-
PubMed Central Data from PMC are received and updated monthly.	-	-

Citations

0

SEE MORE DETAILS

CITE

how to cite this article

Omosebi TO and Abass NF. Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly ash: mechanical properties and durability [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:1139 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.53514.1)

NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.

track

receive updates on this article

Track an article to receive email alerts on any updates to this article.

Open Peer Review

Current Reviewer Status: ?

Key to Reviewer Statuses VIEW HIDE

ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested

Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.

Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions

Version 1

VERSION 1

PUBLISHED 10 Nov 2021

Views

1

Reviewer Report 19 Feb 2024

Seema Raj, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Approved with Reservations

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.56903.r238557

1. The title of the manuscript should be more attractive.
2. The investigators have done many characterizations, but in abstract they have only emphasized on Compressive strength and water absorption. They should rewrite the abstract in more precise way ... Continue reading

1. The title of the manuscript should be more attractive.
2. The investigators have done many characterizations, but in abstract they have only emphasized on Compressive strength and water absorption. They should rewrite the abstract in more precise way and also mentioned the optimum results.
3. Table 1 should be more elaborated with respect to composition of samples.
4. The investigators didn't provide any SEM results or image of tiles.
5. In methodology the investigators should provide the type of PET waste they have used (granular or flaky)
6. In Chemical resistance heading the investigators immersed samples in many chemicals, they should reflect results with respect to efflorescence.
7. Recent references are missing.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Yes
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Not applicable
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Partly
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: Waste management in bricks/tiles, Biodiesel, phytormediation and water treatment

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Views

0

Reviewer Report 15 Feb 2024

Fathoni Usman, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Selangor, Malaysia

Approved with Reservations

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.56903.r238552

Elaborate and add citations for the following statement:
Plastic materials are reportedly carcinogenic as they contain chlorine and other carcinogens.

There is too much common sense in the 1st paragraph of the Introduction. Kindly focus on ... Continue reading

Elaborate and add citations for the following statement:
Plastic materials are reportedly carcinogenic as they contain chlorine and other carcinogens.

There is too much common sense in the 1st paragraph of the Introduction. Kindly focus on PET waste and its problems.

How did you melt the PET and how did you handle the mixing with PET and producing the homogenously mixed PET paste and fly ash? How did you mould it? Kindly elaborate a detail descriptive paragraph on it.

The compressive strength of plastic composite tiles was determined using the Instron Universal Testing Machine (UTM 5967) (Instron Norwood, USA) and the ASTM D638. The compressive testing for plastic material is supposed to be following ASTM D695. ASTM D638 for tensile test.

Kindly check the following statement (Is RIlem the name of the author?): Rilem²³ made a similar observation.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Yes
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Yes
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

No
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Not applicable
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Yes

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: Structure and materials

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Views

2

Reviewer Report 13 Feb 2024

Shahbaz Dandin, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University,, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Approved with Reservations

https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.56903.r238560

Comments:
1. The PET melting process, requiring 260 degrees Celsius, is a lengthy one. It's essential to explore how this method aligns economically with conventional materials.

2. The results and discussions lack explanations for variations in ... Continue reading

Comments:
1. The PET melting process, requiring 260 degrees Celsius, is a lengthy one. It's essential to explore how this method aligns economically with conventional materials.

2. The results and discussions lack explanations for variations in various parameters considered in this paper.

3. The discussion session should encompass comparisons with waste materials from existing literature.

4. This research could benefit from considering binding parameters when mixing flash and melted PET bottles in different proportions.

5. The research limitations need to be succinctly outlined.

6. Melting a mass quantity of PET at 260 degrees Celsius poses significant challenges. What are your environmental concerns in this scenario?

7. The latest literature exploring the behavior of PET and fly ash, such as ref [1,2,3] could have been considered in this study.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

I cannot comment. A qualified statistician is required.
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Partly
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

No

References

1. Adsare SR, Annapure US: Partially defatted coconut flour as a functional ingredient in replacement of refined wheat flour for development of fiber rich muffins.J Food Sci Technol. 2024; 61 (3): 491-502 PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
2. Dandin S, Kulkarni M, Wagale M: Fly Ash Based Subgrade Reinforced with Pet Bottles as Non-conventional Geocell: a 3D Finite Element Analysis. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2023; 41 (2): 1537-1556 Publisher Full Text
3. Dandin S, Kulkarni M: Effect of isolated footing on fly ash subgrade reinforced with PET bottles: An experimental and analytical study. Construction and Building Materials. 2022; 353. Publisher Full Text

Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise: Materials

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

CITE

Report a concern

Respond or Comment

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 1

VERSION 1 PUBLISHED 10 Nov 2021

Open Peer Review

Reviewer Status

Reviewer Reports

	Invited Reviewers
	1	2	3
Version 1 10 Nov 21	read	read	read

Shahbaz Dandin, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University,, Pune, India
Fathoni Usman, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Selangor, Malaysia
Seema Raj, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, India

Comments on this article

All Comments(0)

Add a comment

Sign up for content alerts

Browse by related subjects

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

1 Views

19 Feb 2024 | for Version 1

Seema Raj, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, Haryana, India

1 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved With Reservations

1. The title of the manuscript should be more attractive.
2. The investigators have done many characterizations, but in abstract they have only emphasized on Compressive strength and water absorption. They should rewrite the abstract in more precise way and also mentioned the optimum results.
3. Table 1 should be more elaborated with respect to composition of samples.
4. The investigators didn't provide any SEM results or image of tiles.
5. In methodology the investigators should provide the type of PET waste they have used (granular or flaky)
6. In Chemical resistance heading the investigators immersed samples in many chemicals, they should reflect results with respect to efflorescence.
7. Recent references are missing.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Yes
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Not applicable
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Partly
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Partly

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Waste management in bricks/tiles, Biodiesel, phytormediation and water treatment

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

0 Views

15 Feb 2024 | for Version 1

Fathoni Usman, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Selangor, Malaysia

0 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved With Reservations

Elaborate and add citations for the following statement:
Plastic materials are reportedly carcinogenic as they contain chlorine and other carcinogens.

There is too much common sense in the 1st paragraph of the Introduction. Kindly focus on PET waste and its problems.

How did you melt the PET and how did you handle the mixing with PET and producing the homogenously mixed PET paste and fly ash? How did you mould it? Kindly elaborate a detail descriptive paragraph on it.

The compressive strength of plastic composite tiles was determined using the Instron Universal Testing Machine (UTM 5967) (Instron Norwood, USA) and the ASTM D638. The compressive testing for plastic material is supposed to be following ASTM D695. ASTM D638 for tensile test.

Kindly check the following statement (Is RIlem the name of the author?): Rilem²³ made a similar observation.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Yes
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Yes
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

No
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

Not applicable
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

Yes

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Structure and materials

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

Back to all reports

Reviewer Report

2 Views

13 Feb 2024 | for Version 1

Shahbaz Dandin, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University,, Pune, Maharashtra, India

2 Views Cite this report Responses(0)

Approved With Reservations

Comments:
1. The PET melting process, requiring 260 degrees Celsius, is a lengthy one. It's essential to explore how this method aligns economically with conventional materials.

2. The results and discussions lack explanations for variations in various parameters considered in this paper.

3. The discussion session should encompass comparisons with waste materials from existing literature.

4. This research could benefit from considering binding parameters when mixing flash and melted PET bottles in different proportions.

5. The research limitations need to be succinctly outlined.

6. Melting a mass quantity of PET at 260 degrees Celsius poses significant challenges. What are your environmental concerns in this scenario?

7. The latest literature exploring the behavior of PET and fly ash, such as ref [1,2,3] could have been considered in this study.

Is the work clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?

Partly
Is the study design appropriate and is the work technically sound?

Partly
Are sufficient details of methods and analysis provided to allow replication by others?

Partly
If applicable, is the statistical analysis and its interpretation appropriate?

I cannot comment. A qualified statistician is required.
Are all the source data underlying the results available to ensure full reproducibility?

Partly
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the results?

No

References

1. Adsare SR, Annapure US: Partially defatted coconut flour as a functional ingredient in replacement of refined wheat flour for development of fiber rich muffins.J Food Sci Technol. 2024; 61 (3): 491-502 PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
2. Dandin S, Kulkarni M, Wagale M: Fly Ash Based Subgrade Reinforced with Pet Bottles as Non-conventional Geocell: a 3D Finite Element Analysis. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2023; 41 (2): 1537-1556 Publisher Full Text
3. Dandin S, Kulkarni M: Effect of isolated footing on fly ash subgrade reinforced with PET bottles: An experimental and analytical study. Construction and Building Materials. 2022; 353. Publisher Full Text

Competing Interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Reviewer Expertise

Materials

I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

Respond to this report

Responses (0)

[1] 1. Akçaözoğlu S: Evaluation of waste plastics as recycled plastic composite materials. J Waste Management. Edorium; 2015; Vol. 1, pp. 16–19. Publisher Full Text

[2] 2. Taiwo O, O, Abas NF: Mechanical Properties and Durability of PET waste Aggregates in Roof Tiles Production. Int J Recent Technol Eng . 2021; 9(5): 300–304. Publisher Full Text

[3] 3. Wahid SA, Rawi SM, Desa NM: Utilization of Plastic Bottle Waste in Sand Bricks. J Basic Appl Sci Res. 2015; 5(1): 35–44. 2090-4304.

[4] 4. Sadiq MM, Khattak MR: An Overview of Plastic Waste Management. J Emerging Technol Innovative Res (JETIR). Delhi: Plastic Waste Management Institutes, Central Pollution Control Board; 1999; 2(6). Publisher Full Text

[5] 5. Anslem EO, Eneh: Application of Recycled Plastics and Its Components in the Built Environment. BEST: Int J Management. Delhi: Information Technology and Engineering; 2015; Vol. 3, Issue 3, pp. 9–16. 2348-0513.

[6] 6. Shiri ND, Varun Kajava P, Ranjan HV, et al.: Processing of Waste Plastics into Building Materials Using a Plastic Extruder and Compression Testing of Plastic Bricks. J Mech Eng Automation. 2015; 5(3B): 39–42. Publisher Full Text

[7] 7. Patil PS, Mali JR, Tapkire GV, et al.: Innovative techniques of waste plastic used in concrete. J Mech Eng Auto. 2015; 5: 1800–1803. Publisher Full Text

[8] 8. EPA 430-R-11-005: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: (1990–2009). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency homepage. U.S.; 2011. Reference Source

[9] 9. Melik B, Habib T, Asroun A: Properties of Waste Tire Rubber Powder. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res. 2014; 4(4): 669–672. Publisher Full Text

[10] 10. Konin A: Use of plastic wastes as a binding material in the manufacture of tiles: a case study of wastes with a basis of polypropylene. Material structures J RILEM. 2011; 1381–1387. Publisher Full Text

[11] 11. Laryea S, Agypong SA, Leiringer R, et al.: 4th West African Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference (pp. 1231-1237).Abuja, Nigeria: West African Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference.

[12] 12. Ramaraj AP, Nagammal AN: Exploring the Current Practices of Post-Consumer PET Bottles and The Innovative Applications as A Sustainable Building Material. 30th International Plea Conference. Ahmedabad: Cept University Press; 2014; pp. 16–18.

[13] 13. Velumani P, Karthik SG: Development of Eco-Friendly Pressed Roof Tiles: A Prologue Study. Int J Sci Eng Res. 2017; 8(12): 2030–2033.

[14] 14. Harini BV: Use of Recycled Plastic Waste as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in Concrete. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering, and Technology. 2015; pp. 85–96. Publisher Full Text

[15] 15. Niaki MH, Fereidoon A, Ahangari MG: Effect of Basalt, Silica Sand and Fly Ash on the Mechanical Properties of Quaternary Polymer Concretes. Bull. Mater. Sci. 2018; 41: 69 © Indian Academy of Sciences. Publisher Full Text

[16] 16. Akinwumi II, Domo-spiff AH, Salami A: Case Studies Construction Materials Marine plastic pollution and affordable housing challenge: shredded waste plastic stabilized soil for producing compressed earth bricks. Case Stud. Constr, Mater. 2019; 11. e00241. Publisher Full Text

[17] 17. Kumi-Larbi A, Yunana D, Kamsoulounm P, et al.: Recycling waste plastics in developing contries: use of low-density polyethylene water sachets to form plastic bonded sand blocks. Waste Manag. 2018; 80: 112–118. Publisher Full Text

[18] 18. Yang Y, Boom R, Irion B, et al.: Recycling of composite materials. Chem. Eng. Process. Process Intensif. 2012; 51: 53–68. Publisher Full Text

[19] 19. Bamigboye GO, Adedeji AA, Olukanni DO, et al.: Reliability of Gravel in Place of Granite in Concrete Production. J Eng Appl Sci . 2017; 12(20): 5121–5128. Publisher Full Text

[20] 20. Borg RP, Baldacchino O, Ferrara L: Early age performance and mechanical characteristics of recycled PET fiber reinforced concrete. Construction and Building Materials. 2016; 108. pp. 29–47. Reference Source

[21] 21. AL-Hadithi AI, Hilal NN: The possibility of enhancing some properties of self-compacting concrete by adding waste plastic fibres. J Buil Eng. 2016; 8A: 20–28. Publisher Full Text

[22] 22. Rilem C: 11.3. Absorption of water by immersion under vacuum. Mater Struct . 1984; 17(101): 391–394.

[23] 23. Dhawan, Bisht BMS, Rajeev Kumar, et al.: Recycling of plastic waste into tiles with reduced flammability and improved tensile strength. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 2019; 124: 299–307. Advanced Engineering, 2(6), pp. 42–46. Publisher Full Text

Polymer tiles from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes and fly ash: mechanical properties and durability

Abstract

Keywords

Introduction

Methods

Materials

Table 1. Different contents of PET waste and Fly ash used in this study.

Table 2. Chemical composition of fly ash used.

Characterization

Results and discussion

Water absorption

Figure 1. Water absorption of the composite tile samples.

Density

Figure 2. Density of the composite tile samples.

Porosity

Figure 3. Porosity of the composite tile samples.

Compressive strength

Figure 4. Compressive strength of the composite tile samples.

Flexural strength

Figure 5. Flexural strength of the composite tile samples.

Chemical resistance

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

Data availability

References

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Open Peer Review

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Open Peer Review

Reviewer Status

Reviewer Reports

Comments on this article

Browse by related subjects

Competing Interests Policy

Stay Updated