Plaster added with plastic cable waste as a new traditional sustainable material

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the possibilities of reusing plastic waste of cables added in a plaster matrix. Firstly, the experimental process has allowed the physicochemical characterization of the raw material, plaster and plastic waste, consisting in elemental analysis, XRD and thermogravimetric analysis; Secondly, the performance of physicomechanical tests of the mixtures, Shore C hardness, absorption and resistance to flexion and compression. During the investigation, the water/plaster ratio of 0.8 was maintained, as well as the grain size of the plastic waste as it comes from the recycling factory (maximum 3 mm). On the contrary, the amount of added plastic waste has oscillated up to incorporate 50%, 60% and 70% over the weight of the plaster. In comparison to a reference sample, the obtained compounds are characterized by having a higher Shore C hardness, a lower absorption by capillarity and a decrease in their values of mechanical resistance. The addition of plastic waste to a plaster matrix can be considered as a possibility to obtain compounds of greater sustainability to be used in the field of sustainable construction.