Production of Pavement Blocks from Plastic Waste

Abstract

The need for the construction sector to be sustained by innovative technology targeted at conserving the natural resources and protecting the environment cannot be overemphasized. The use of plastic wastes as additives in the production of pavement blocks has both engineering and environmental implications. The use of paver blocks produced from plastic wastes is becoming more popular, finding applications in parking areas, compounds, open spaces, streets, and in minor and major roads. The way and manner plastic wastes generated are managed in developing countries is worrisome and disturbing, due to their non-biodegradable nature. The research is aimed at using plastic wastes as binding groundmass in place of cement in the production of pavement blocks. This will go a long way in solving part of our environmental and ecological problems resulting from indiscriminate dumping of plastic wastes. Plastic wastes (LDPE type) were melted at temperatures between 180˚C-250˚C in a closed system and mixed in different proportions (70:30, 60:40 and 50:50) with granite-dust, sand and clay to produce sample paver blocks. The same mold was also used to produce cement paver blocks. These blocks were subjected to flexural, compressive-strength, water-absorption, oven and acid tests. The results of these tests revealed that paver blocks produced from plastic additives show more tensile strength, better water absorption, more resistant to corrosion and good heat absorber compared to the blocks produced from cement. Plastic paver blocks also showed abysmally low water absorption than the cement blocks. The application of plastic waste in the production of paver block is an innovative way of disposing plastic waste littered all over the place, thereby cleaning the environment. The cost of plastic waste paver block when compared with concrete paver block is stronger, tougher, economical and more resistant to heat and corrosion. The study has clearly established that plastic paver blocks are better alternative to normal cement paver blocks.