The Effects of Plastic Waste Materials on the Physical and Strength Properties of Floor Tiles

Abstract

Human activities often generate solid waste, such as plastics. The disposal of this waste is usually a setback. This paper aimed to examine the viability of using plastic waste and white cement to produce floor tiles. Waste was collected from waste disposal facilities within Benson Idahosa University. The materials were cleaned and dried, and plastics were shredded. Waste materials were then mixed with white cement in different ratios. Compressive strength tests were performed to verify the suitability of utilising these solid wastes to make floor tiles. Shred plastics that were passed through a sieve with an average diameter of 1 to 2 mm were utilised. The cubes were cast and cured for 7, 14, and 28 days. The compressive strength of the cubes was tested using a universal testing machine. The study found that the addition of up to 50 % of cement resulted in a more than a 10-fold increase in the compressive strength of the cast cubes. On the other hand, the inclusion of plastics reduced the compressive strength of the cubes. Furthermore, increasing the number of plastics increased water absorption, whereas larger amounts of cement reduced water absorption. Plastics are a common waste produced by man; hence, they are easily accessible and a very economical material to produce floor tiles.