Effect of recycled PET in the fracture mechanics of polymer mortar

Non-biodegradable plastic aggregates made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste from beverage containers are used as partial replacement of aggregates in mortar. Various weight fractions of sand 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% are replaced by the same weight of plastic. This paper investigates the fracture properties of the obtained composites. A reduction of the specific weight of the polymer mortars and a significant improvement of their post-peak flexural behavior are observed. The present study has shown quite encouraging results and opened new way for the recycling of PET waste in polymer mortars.