DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS USED PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES IN CONCRETE BLOCKS

With the daily use of plastic bottles and the increasing amount of waste polluting the environment, a fourth-year civil engineering student decided to investigate the use of plastic bottles in concrete blocks under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Ms. Mais Abdulrazzaq Ibrahim.

Compressive strength tests of concrete blocks are performed to study the behavior of waste plastic concrete and compare the results with ordinary concrete. The demand started with collecting large amounts of plastic, crushing it and adding it to the concrete mix. Adding plastic is an important step towards respecting the environment and improving the properties of concrete. This type of plastic is considered an insulator, filling voids in concrete and helping reduce the effects of heat, especially in summer.

The students seek to improve the properties of concrete and positive results from the use of plastics at the level of reduced production costs. The students also aimed to achieved the positive results through the use of plastics, concrete properties, and reduced manufacturing costs.