Effect of Chemicals on Compressive Strength of Concrete made with Pulverised High-Density Polyethylene as Admixtures

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> The use of plastic materials as admixtures in cementitious matrices has spurred studies in concrete with great potentials for sustainable concrete production. This research seeks to explore the impact of chemicals on the compressive behaviour of concrete incorporating pulverised High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) that has been chemically treated with 20% hydrogen peroxide. Concrete cubes were cast in 150mm³ steel moulds and the pulverised and treated HDPE was incorporated in percentages (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1%) by the weight of cement. Hydroplast-500 was utilised as superplasticiser while water - to- cement ratios of 0.4 and 0.36 were used for required workability, respectively for 25 and 50 grades concretes. The sample cubes were first cured in water for 28 days prior to being immersed in 10% concentration of tetraoxosulphate (vi) acid and 10% magnesium sulphate concentrations for 7, 28, and 90 days. The cubes were removed and properly rinsed in clean water before being tested for compressive strength. Mass loss and Strength Deterioration Factor (SDF) were then determined. Results obtained showed more deterioration of samples with increase in HDPE amount up to 76.69% when cured in acid for 90 days. However, it was observed that deterioration decreased up to 4.67% with the increase in HDPE content when cured in sulphate medium for 90 days. The study recommends the use of 1% HDPE by cement weight in the production of sustainable concrete for building and civil engineering infrastructure in sulphate-rich regions, while contributing to environmental sanitation.