Sustainable use of 3D-printed plastic waste as aggregate in self-compacting mortar: A study on rheological, mechanical and thermal performance.

Plastic waste poses environmental and health risks, highlighting the need for sustainable reuse in construction. This study introduces a novel solution to plastic waste utilization by: (1) developing rheological testing equipment from plastic using 3D printing technology, and (2) enhancing the rheological performance of self-compacting mortar (SCM) with 3D-printed plastic fine aggregates (3DPFA). SCM mixtures incorporating 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% 3DPFA as a replacement for natural sand were prepared and tested to evaluate fresh, mechanical, and thermal properties through mini-slump flow, T20 spread time, J-ring flow, V-funnel, compressive strength, UPV, and thermal conductivity tests.

Design and Evaluation of Asphalt Concrete Incorporating Plastic Aggregates Fabricated Using 3D Printing Technology.

Environmental protection and sustainability have been a serious challenge due to the excess amount of waste plastic, and the inefficient methods of its disposal. This study aims at exploring the feasibility of using plastic material in asphalt concrete followed by the design and evaluation of modified asphalt mix. Four different types of asphalt mixtures were made by mixing mineral aggregates with plastic aggregates of different shapes and sizes.