Composite based on recycled polypropylene for use in agricultural installations¹

Compósito à base de polipropileno reciclado para utilização em instalações agrícolas

ABSTRACT

This study aims to develop an eco-friendly, recyclable, and cost-effective composite material for use in storage sheds and machine workshops. The new composite consists of stone dust and gravel bricks bonded by recycled polypropylene through heat treatment. The main focus of this study is to determine the effects of varying polymer proportions on the resistance and permeability properties of the studied composite, intending to achieve optimal properties, i.e., high resistance and low permeability. To do this, the 2² factorial arrangement was employed, comprising four treatments along with three central points, each replicated three times. The data was statistically analyzed at a 95% confidence level from an adapted methodology. This involved tests of compression strength, 3-point bending strength, Los Angeles abrasion, and water absorption by immersion, in which three percentages of polymer content (PC) - 15, 25, and 35% - and aggregates (fine sand, medium sand, and coarse sand - FS, MS, and CS) were used to prepare the composite. The developed composite was deemed suitable for use in storage warehouses and machine workshops, as it presented physical and mechanical appropriate characteristics, i.e., a low water absorption rate and high resistance to compression and abrasion, in addition to being an environmentally friendly composite.

Key words:
agricultural sheds; polymer; strength; waste

HIGHLIGHTS:

Recycled polypropylene can be effectively employed in rural installations that require safety, efficiency, and high quality.

Using waste polypropylene in a composite instead of cement brings higher physical properties than conventional concrete.

As the brick’s voids are filled with polymer, the brick’s strength becomes more reliant on the strength of the polymer itself.