Uso de plásticos reciclados en remplazo de agregados finos para la fabricación de hormigón estructural y su aplicación en el cantón Azogues.

Abstract

Deficiencies in solid waste management, especially plastics, constitute a significant problem for natural ecosystems and public health. In response to this issue, recycling emerges as an alternative to the conflict, providing added value to waste. Therefore, this research describes the potential application of crushed recycled plastics to replace a percentage of stone aggregates in the production of concrete with designs of 180, 210, and 240 kg/cm2, using plastic percentages of 5 and 10% for each mix, defining their compliance range according to the Ecuadorian Technical Standard (NTE by its Spanish acronym). The evolution of sample strengths over time is reported, with the results show that the 240 kg/cm2 sample, designed with 10% and 5% plastic aggregates, showed a decrease in strength compared to the control specimen. The same occurred with the 210 kg/cm2 and 180 kg/cm2 sample. In general, numerical terms, the differences in strengths at 28 days, on average, have decreased by 30.43% in samples with 10% plastic incorporation instead of sand, while samples with 5% plastic incorporation show a 13.14% decrease in strength. This establishes a basis that supports the notion of an unsuccessful use of this material to achieve a higher degree of resistance in structural elements.