Composite Construction Tiles Manufactured from PET and Other Waste Plastics Reinforced with Polycarbonate and Study their Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Direct recycling of plastic waste without chemical conversion used mechanical shredding with thermal press is the main purpose of this research for manufacturing of building tiles. Seven types of plastic waste have been used in the manufacture of tile includes, PET, PVC, PS, PP, LDPE, HDPE, and PC. In stainless steel mold 250g of different weight percentages of grinded plastic waste have been packed, heated for 30min at ~170°C and then pressed inside piston give pressure of 5ton/in2 equal to (44.2MPa) and for 5min. The produced tile was cooled gradually inside its mold till reached 5o C. Different mechanical test for the manufacture tiles were done, where the best result was found for specimen3 plastic mixture, where shows compression strength 17.0MPa for square tile form, tile 17.4 MPa for circular tile form, which means the tile form play an important role in its strength. Similarly, the tensile strength and elongation% tests were also be the highest for specimen3 with values equal 3.4MPa and 2.0%, respectively. The Rockwell hardness of the tile shows HRR=95 where large numbers correspond to harder material. Finally the Charpy impact test shows the specimen2 has the highest impact energy 2.421kg.m and toughness 2.968kg.m/cm2 . All previous mechanical values clear the manufactured plastic tiles are suitable as building materials