PLASTIC FANTASTIC
A concrete replacement for sand
 Beach sand is often unviable for concrete production due to its salt content, but waste plastics don't have that problem. (Photo: Panthermedia/dnaumoid) |
Waste plastics could soon wind up in the same place as the feet of mafia informants from the movies: in concrete.
The problem starts with sand, a material that comes in many varieties. The grades with the right properties for mixing with cement to form concrete are currently in short supply, so researchers are experimenting with adding old resin as a replacement for the gritty results of erosion.
Research into adding used polymers to the building industry staple is nothing new: MIT researchers announced in 2017 that supplements of irradiated waste plastics could produce concrete 15% stronger than conventional material.
But now the situation has become acute, according to the BBC. It said that dredging rivers for sand has been banned in some Asian countries for environmental reasons, and scarcity in India has spurred illegal digs and criminal gangs known as “sand mafias”.
One can see the irony of a concrete shortage offering opportunities for organised crime. And since waste plastics can replace up to 10% of the sand in concrete, according to one researcher, maybe it can assist not only construction companies, but also help break up the sand gangs.
The problem starts with sand, a material that comes in many varieties. The grades with the right properties for mixing with cement to form concrete are currently in short supply, so researchers are experimenting with adding old resin as a replacement for the gritty results of erosion.
Research into adding used polymers to the building industry staple is nothing new: MIT researchers announced in 2017 that supplements of irradiated waste plastics could produce concrete 15% stronger than conventional material.
But now the situation has become acute, according to the BBC. It said that dredging rivers for sand has been banned in some Asian countries for environmental reasons, and scarcity in India has spurred illegal digs and criminal gangs known as “sand mafias”.
One can see the irony of a concrete shortage offering opportunities for organised crime. And since waste plastics can replace up to 10% of the sand in concrete, according to one researcher, maybe it can assist not only construction companies, but also help break up the sand gangs.
30.07.2021 Plasteurope.com [248220-0]
Published on 30.07.2021