Desempeño físico del concreto con PET reciclado en el Ecuador.

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of incorporating crushed PET, as a partial substitute for coarse aggregate, on the fresh and hardened properties of a conventional concrete mix with a specified strength of 28 MPa. For this, replacements were made on a volumetric basis in proportions of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of the coarse aggregate, and workability, density, air content, and resistance to compression, traction and chloride ions penetrability tests were carried out, both in the master mixture and in the modified mixtures, applying the ASTM standards. The results show that the workability decreased when increasing PET in percentages greater than 5%; however, its consistency remained plastic. The air content also increased by incorporating PET, where a 20% replacement generated an increase of 107.14%. The fresh density was not so affected, being 7.60% the maximum decrease. The compressive strength at 28 days decreased as the percentage of PET increased, where the replacements of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% caused losses of 14%, 24%, 31% and 37% respectively. Losses in tensile strength follow a similar trend to the previous one, with values of 16%, 22%, 31% and 40% respectively. Finally, as the PET content increases, the permeability of the concrete increases, where replacements of 5% and 20% cause increases in the electric charge equal to 6.06% and 29.98%, respectively.