Polypropylene Fiber (Disposable Plastic Cups) Reinforced Autoclaved Concrete

Abstract

The fast-food chain had brought several innovations in food holders to include plastic cups, and other food packaging made from polypropylene. It is extruded into many plastic products because of its toughness, flexibility, lightweight and heat resistance built up by polymerization of propylene. Due to its convenience and lightweight, it adds to the vast accumulation of wastes thrown into a temporary dumpsite of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUOT) located adjacent to the PNGUOT Forest Habitat. It also adds to the many numbers of wastes burned in the University premises. The method of utilization of this essential and most common type of product in many households, office and including mess halls, is to recycle it by making it as a fiber reinforcement to concrete. Polypropylene can withstand heat up to 160oC and the curing used for the polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete is by autoclave, a high steam electric machine at 121oC at a constant pressure of 220 KPa. The result shows that the polypropylene fiber has a sound reinforcement effect to concrete and has a compressive strength that of lightweight concrete.

Keywords: Polypropylene, Autoclaved Concrete, Lightweight Concrete, Fiber Reinforced Concrete