This study examines the corrosion behaviour of steel rebar in concrete with recycled plastic waste (RPW) from single-use plastics as a partial replacement for conventional fine aggregate. The use of RPW in concrete helps reduce environmental impact and reliance on natural sand. To improve bonding between RPW and the cement matrix, RPW was chemically treated. Five RPW content levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) and two RPW types (treated and untreated) were considered. Concrete permeability was evaluated through water absorption, sorptivity and chloride ion penetration tests. Corrosion behaviour of embedded steel rebars was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarisation techniques under accelerated conditions with 3.5% NaCl solution in alternating wet-dry cycles. Open circuit potential was monitored throughout. The study revealed that using T-RPW fine aggregate reduced water absorption by 16.1% and increased resistance to chloride ion penetration by 17.3% compared to UT-RPW at a 20% replacement level. Additionally, the corrosion rate for T-RPW (0.0144 mm/year) was 50% lower than that of UT-RPW (0.0288 mm/year), highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing concrete durability. This study highlights both the benefits and limitations of using treated RPW as a sustainable alternative in concrete.
BataynehMMarieIAsiI. Use of selected waste materials in concrete mixes. Waste Manag2007; 27: 1870–1876.
4.
TangWCLoYNadeemA. Mechanical and drying shrinkage properties of structural-graded polystyrene aggregate concrete. Cem Concr Compos2008; 30: 403–409.
5.
DemirbogaRKanA. Thermal conductivity and shrinkage properties of modified waste polystyrene aggregate concretes. Constr Build Mater2012; 35: 730–734.
6.
RahmaniEDehestaniMBeygiMHA, et al.On the mechanical properties of concrete containing waste PET particles. Constr Build Mater2013; 47: 1302–1308.
7.
SaikiaNBritoJD. Mechanical properties and abrasion behaviour of concrete containing shredded PET bottle waste as a partial substitution of natural aggregate. Constr Build Mater2014; 52: 236–244.
8.
BhogayataACAroraNK. Fresh and strength properties of concrete reinforced with metalized plastic waste fibers. Constr Build Mater2017; 146: 455–463.
9.
SabauMVargasJR. Use of e-plastic waste in concrete as a partial replacement of coarse mineral aggregate. Comput Concr2018; 21: 377–384.
10.
AlyousefRMohammadhosseiniHTahirM,et al.Green concrete composites production comprising metalized plastic waste fibers and palm oil fuel ash. Mater Today: Proc2021; 39: 911–916.
11.
Taheri-ShakibJAl-MayahA. Applications of X-ray computed tomography to characterize corrosion-induced cracking evolution in reinforced concrete: a review. J Build Eng2024; 90: 109420.
12.
IsmailZZAl-hashmiEA. Use of waste plastic in concrete mixture as aggregate replacement. Waste Manag2008; 28: 2041–2047.
13.
PanyakapoPPanyakapoM. Reuse of thermosetting plastic waste for lightweight concrete. Waste Manag2008; 28: 1581–1588.
14.
IslamJMeherierSIslamAKMR. Effects of waste PET as coarse aggregate on the fresh and harden properties of concrete. Constr Build Mater2016; 125: 946–951.
15.
KurupARKumarKS. Novel fibrous concrete mixture made from recycled PVC fibers from electronic waste. ASCE J Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste2017; 21: 04016020 .
16.
OlofinnadeOChandraSChakrabortyP. Recycling of high impact polystyrene and low-density polyethylene plastic wastes in lightweight based concrete for sustainable construction. Mater Today: Proc2021; 38: 2151–2156.
17.
FrigioneM. Recycling of PET bottles as fine aggregate in concrete. Waste Manag2010; 30: 1101–1106.
18.
FerreiraLBritoJDSaikiaN. Influence of curing conditions on the mechanical performance of concrete containing recycled plastic aggregate. Constr Build Mater2012; 36: 196–204.
KumarKSBaskarK. Development of eco-friendly concrete incorporating recycled high-impact polystyrene from hazardous electronic waste. ASCE J Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste2015; 19: 04014042.
21.
ManjunathA. Partial replacement of E-plastic waste as coarse-aggregate in concrete. Procedia Environ Sci2016; 35: 731–739.
22.
Nursyamsi ZebuaWSB. The influence of pet plastic waste gradations as coarse aggregate towards compressive strength of light concrete. Procedia Eng2017; 171: 614–619.
23.
BulutHASahinR. A study on mechanical properties of polymer concrete containing electronic plastic waste. Compos Struct2017; 178: 50–62.
24.
MohammedAA. Modelling the mechanical properties of concrete containing PET waste aggregate. Constr Build Mater2017; 150: 595–605.
25.
BelmokaddemMMahiASenhadjiY,et al.Mechanical and physical properties and morphology of concrete containing plastic waste as aggregate. Constr Build Mater2020; 257: 119559.
26.
GesogluMGuneyisiEHansuO, et al.Mechanical and fracture characteristics of self-compacting concretes containing different percentage of plastic waste powder. Constr Build Mater2017; 140: 562–569.
27.
HamaSMHilalNN. Fresh properties of self-compacting concrete with plastic waste as partial replacement of sand. Int J Sustain Built Environ2017; 6: 299–308.
Taheri-ShakibJAl-MayahA. Effect of corrosion pit distribution of rebar on pore, and crack characteristics in concrete. Cem Concr Compos2024; 148: 105476.
32.
NaikTRSinghSSHuberCO,et al.Use of post-consumer waste plastics in cement-based composites. Cem Concr Res1996; 26: 1489–1492.
33.
ThorneycroftJOrrJSavoikarP,et al.Performance of structural concrete with recycled plastic waste as a partial replacement for sand. Constr Build Mater2018; 161: 63–69.
34.
AshokMJayabalanPSaraswathyV,et al.A study on mechanical properties of concrete including activated recycled plastic waste. Adv Concr Constr2020; 9: 207–215.
35.
AshokMJayabalanPDaniel Ronald JosephJ,et al.Experimental study on partial replacement of fine aggregates using recycled plastic waste beads in concrete. J Struct Eng (Madras)2020; 47: 132–143.
36.
AshokMJayabalanPDaniel Ronald JosephJ. Thermal resistance behaviour of concrete with recycled plastic waste fine aggregate. Innov Infrastruct Solut2023; 8: 57.
37.
SilvaRVBritoJDSaikiaN. Influence of curing conditions on the durability-related performance of concrete made with selected plastic waste aggregate. Cem Concr Compos2013; 35: 23–31.
38.
PaliwalGMaruS. Effect of fly ash and plastic waste on mechanical and durability properties of concrete. Adv Concr Constr2017; 5: 575–586.
39.
ChoiYWJoongDJicY,et al.Characteristics of mortar and concrete containing fine aggregate manufactured from recycled waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles. Constr Build Mater2009; 23: 2829–2835.
40.
Jacob-vaillancourtCSorelliL. Characterization of concrete composites with recycled plastic aggregate from postconsumer material streams. Constr Build Mater2018; 182: 561–572.
41.
SafiBSaidiMAboutalebD,et al.The use of plastic waste as fine aggregate in the self-compacting mortars : effect on physical and mechanical properties. Constr Build Mater2013; 43: 436–442.
42.
SoroushianPEldarwishAAITliliA, et al.Experimental investigation of the optimized use of plastic flakes in normal-weight concrete. Mag Concr Res1999; 51: 27–33.
43.
HannawiKKamali-bernardSPrinceW. Physical and mechanical properties of mortars containing PET and PC waste aggregate. Waste Manag2010; 30: 2312–2320.
44.
FarajRHFarASherwaniH,et al.Mechanical, fracture and durability properties of self-compacting high strength concrete containing recycled polypropylene plastic particles. J Build Eng2019; 25: 100808.
45.
SenhadjiYEscadeillasGBenosmanAS, et al.Effect of incorporating PVC waste as aggregate on the physical, mechanical, and chloride ion penetration behaviour of concrete. J Adhes Sci Technol2015; 29: 625–640.
46.
BabuKGBabuDS. Performance of fly ash concretes containing lightweight EPS aggregate. Cem Concr Res2004; 26: 605–611.
47.
BhogayataACAroraNK. Impact strength, permeability and chemical resistance of concrete reinforced with metalized plastic waste fibers. Constr Build Mater2018; 161: 254–266.
48.
Taheri-ShakibJAl-MayahA. Dynamics of localized accelerated corrosion in reinforced concrete: voids, corrosion products, and crack formation. Ceram Int2024; 50: 48755–48767.
49.
GavelaSNtziouniARakantaE, et al.Corrosion behaviour of steel rebars in reinforced concrete containing thermoplastic wastes as aggregate. Constr Build Mater2013; 41: 419–426.
IS 10262:2019 Concrete mix proportioning – Guidelines.
52.
ASTM C642-13 Standard test method for density, absorption, and voids in hardened concrete.
53.
ASTM C1585-13 Standard test method for measurement of rate of absorption of water by hydraulic-cement concretes.
54.
ASTM C1202-17a Standard test method for electrical indication of concrete’s ability to resist chloride ion penetration.
55.
IS 2770-1:1967 (R2017) Method of testing bond in reinforced concrete (Pull out test).
56.
ASTM C876 − 15 Standard test method for corrosion potentials of uncoated reinforcing steel in concrete.
57.
BahijSOmarySFeugeasF,et al.Fresh and hardened properties of concrete containing different forms of plastic waste – A review. Waste Manag2020; 113: 157–175.
58.
ChaoZWangHHuS, et al.Permeability and porosity of light-weight concrete with plastic waste aggregate: experimental study and machine learning modelling. Constr Build Mater2024; 411: 134465.
59.
HeXLiWSuY, et al.Recycling of plastic waste concrete to prepare an effective additive for early strength and late permeability improvement of cement paste. Constr Build Mater2022; 347: 128581.
60.
SauDShiulyAHazraT. Utilization of plastic waste as replacement of natural aggregates in sustainable concrete: effects on mechanical and durability properties. Int J Environ Sci Technol2024; 21: 2085–2120.
