Mechanical Performance of Recycled Plastic-Based Paving Blocks with Sand and Fly Ash Fillers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26877/asset.v8i2.2664Keywords:
recycled polymer binder, cementless paving block, compressive strength degradation, sustainable construction materials, plastic-based paving blockAbstract
The use of recycled plastic waste as a binder for paving blocks has been reported in a number of previous studies. However, most of these studies focus on feasibility and do not clearly explain how different plastic types behave mechanically over time. In this study, the compressive strength performance of paving blocks made from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was experimentally compared using sand or fly ash as fillers. All mixtures were prepared with a fixed composition of 60% plastic and 40% aggregate. Compressive strength testing was carried out at 28 and 56 days using three specimens for each mix. The results show that the HDPE–sand mixture achieved the highest compressive strength at 28 days, reaching 15.7 MPa. Nevertheless, a noticeable reduction in strength was observed at 56 days, particularly in the HDPE-based mixtures. This reduction is mainly associated with polymer shrinkage and the development of interfacial stresses between the plastic binder and the aggregates. Overall, the results indicate that plastic-based paving blocks can meet the requirements of SNI 03–0691–1996 for light-duty applications, although their long-term mechanical stability remains a limitation that needs further attention.
References
[1] Luu T-A, Le V-G, Thai V-A, Nguyen M-K, Lin C, Pham M-T, et al. Plastic wastes for carbon-based materials: Investigations on recent applications towards environmentally sustainable, carbon dioxide capture and green energy. Environmental Pollution 2025;370:125899. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125899.
[2] Qomaruddin M, Alfian T, Faqih N, Roehman F, Musthofa. Review Pemanfaatan Sampah Plastik untuk Energi dan Bahan Konstruksi. Jurnal Ilmiah Teknosains 2024;10:59–4. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26877/jitek.v10i2/Nov.20048.
[3] Tao P, Ma XB, Chen DZ, Wang H. Pyrolysis of Waste Plastics: Effect of Heating Rate on Product Yields and Oil Properties. Adv Mat Res 2013;666:1–10. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.666.1.
[4] Wang Z, Phua ZH, Chan WP, Lisak G. Evaluating fresh and hardened properties of mortar composite with different types of modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials as additives: Modification effects, surface properties, shape factors. Chemosphere 2024;367:143567. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143567.
[5] Cano NS de SL, Rutkowski EW, Velis CA. Circular economy systems analysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic packaging by informal recycling in Brazil, Global South: Quality assurance, rejects and value appropriation. J Clean Prod 2025;534:147029. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147029.
[6] Magbool HM. Sustainability of utilizing recycled plastic fiber in green concrete: A systematic review. Case Studies in Construction Materials 2025;22:e04432. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04432.
[7] Peisino LE, Barbero-Barrera M del M, García-Castro CB, Kreiker J, Gaggino R. Assessment of the mechanical and physical characteristics of PET bricks with different aggregates. J Environ Manage 2024;357:120720. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120720.
[8] Faqih N, Suripin, Wulandari DA, Hermanto H, Sunaryo, Qomaruddin M. Paving made from LDPE plastic waste, agricultural mulch waste and hot sand, case study of potato farming in the Dieng plateau. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci., vol. 1414, Institute of Physics; 2024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1414/1/012052.
[9] Agyeman S, Obeng-Ahenkora NK, Assiamah S, Twumasi G. Exploiting recycled plastic waste as an alternative binder for paving blocks production. Case Studies in Construction Materials 2019;11:e00246. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2019.e00246.
[10] Kazemi M, Faisal Kabir S, Fini EH. State of the art in recycling waste thermoplastics and thermosets and their applications in construction. Resour Conserv Recycl 2021;174:105776. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105776.
[11] Hasheminezhad A, Farina A, Yang B, Ceylan H, Kim S, Tutumluer E, et al. The utilization of recycled plastics in the transportation infrastructure systems: A comprehensive review. Constr Build Mater 2024;411:134448. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134448.
[12] Kustirini A, Qomaruddin M, Setyati Budiningrum D, Eka IA. The Influence of Compressive Strength of Mortar Geopolimer on Addition of Carbit Waste Ash with Curing Oven System. 1st International Conference on Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, and Agricultural Technology (SCIS 2019), Semarang: 2019, p. 1–4.
[13] Qomaruddin M, Ay Lie H, Hidayat A, Sudarno, Kustirini A. Compressive Strength Analysis on Geopolymer Paving by Using Waste Substitution of Carbide Waste and Fly Ash. J. Phys. Conf. Ser., vol. 1424, Institute of Physics Publishing; 2019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1424/1/012052.
[14] Krishna Rao A, Rupesh Kumar D. Experimental and microstructural analysis on flyash-GGBS based geopolymer concrete under ambient curing condition. Mater Today Proc 2023;92:871–5. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.456.
[15] Xiong Z, Wei W, Liu F, Cui C, Li L, Zou R, et al. Bond behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete with basalt fibre-reinforced polymer bars. Compos Struct 2021;256:113078. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.113078.
[16] Li L, Mai G, He S, Xiong Z, Wei W, Luo H, et al. Experimental study on bond behaviour between recycled aggregate concrete and basalt fibre-reinforced polymer bars under different strain rates. Constr Build Mater 2021;290:123218. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123218.
[17] Li Y, Xu H, Zhang Y, Dong L, Liu C, Xie H, et al. Paving 3D interconnected Cring-C3N4@rGO skeleton for polymer composites with efficient thermal management performance yet high electrical insulation. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2022;135:106147. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2022.106147.
[18] Cai S, Deng X, Beiyuan J, Chen X, Liu D, Lv D, et al. Review of synthetic polymer-based thermal insulation materials in construction and building. Journal of Building Engineering 2024;97:110846. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110846.
[19] Hassan H, Regnier N, Pujos C, Arquis E, Defaye G. Modeling the effect of cooling system on the shrinkage and temperature of the polymer by injection molding. Appl Therm Eng 2010;30:1547–57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.02.025.
[20] Shuai X, Yang liuyimei, Qi F, Yang M, Yang Y, Shuai C. Theoretical Analysis of Self-Shrinkage Spheroidization of Irregular Degradable Polymer Powder under Thermodynamic Nonequilibrium State. Additive Manufacturing Frontiers 2024;3:200173. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amf.2024.200173.
[21] Feng J, Venna SR, Hopkinson DP. Interactions at the interface of polymer matrix-filler particle composites. Polymer (Guildf) 2016;103:189–95. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2016.09.059.
[22] Geng Y, Zhou J, Liu M, Hu Z, Zhu L, Wang L, et al. A Machine Learning-Enabled Real-Time temperature response system based on Polymer-Filler interactions for conductive network assembly. Chemical Engineering Journal 2025;504:158778. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158778.
[23] Meuchelböck J, Peiffer C, Walter L, Dippold M, Munro P, Ruckdäschel H. Influence of temperature on the compression properties of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (ETPU). Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering 2024;19:10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40712-024-00149-9.
[24] SNI. Standar Nasional Indonesia Badan Standardisasi Nasional Bata beton (Paving block). 1996.
[25] Widayat, Satriadi H, Wibawa LP, Hanif GF, Qomaruddin M. Oil and gas characteristics of coal with pyrolysis process. AIP Conf Proc 2022;2453:020077. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0094759.
[26] Chang T, Feng H, Fang R, Yin F. Study on pyrolysis-derived oil from plastic waste using recycled additives under semi-pilot scale processes. Energy Nexus 2025;20:100607. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100607.
[27] Suprianto T, Kasim M, Darmansyah. Evaluating the Role of Extractives in Biomass Pyrolysis for Enhanced Hydrogen Syngas Production. Advance Sustainable Science, Engineering and Technology 2025;7. https://doi.org/10.26877/asset.v7i3.2132.
[28] Raj SS, Kannan TK, Kathiresan M, Balachandar K, Krishnakumar S. Why not stir casting for polymer composites? Investigations on poly lactic acid based wood plastic composite. Mater Today Proc 2021;45:862–8. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.02.926.
[29] De La Cruz RGS. Innovative Utilization of Fly Ash and Hydrated Lime In Paving Blocks: A Sustainable And Cost-Effective Alternative To Cement–Based Construction Materials. SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering 2025;12:1–15. https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I6P101.
[30] Soebandono B, Pujianto A, Kurniawan D. Perilaku Kuat Tekan dan Kuat Tarik Beton Campuran Limbah Plastik HDPE (Compressive and Tensile Strength Behavior of Concrete Filled with HDPE Waste) 2013:76–2.
[31] ASTM International. Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens 1. West Conshohocken: 2021.
[32] Kalaiselvi M, Sivagamasundari R. Experimental Analysis on GGBS and Fly Ash in Geopolymer Concrete. SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering 2024;11:114–24. https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V11I3P110.
[33] SNI. Cara uji kadar air total agregat dengan pengeringan ICS 93.020 Badan Standardisasi Nasional 2011.
[34] SNI. Spesifikasi timbunan pilihan dan lapis fondasi menggunakan abu batu bara (fly ash dan bottom ash / FABA) 2022.
[35] Kusuma A, Steenie P, Wallah E, Dapas SO. Kuat Tarik Belah Beton Geopolymer Berbasis Abu Terbang (Fly Ash). Jurnal Sipil Statik 2014;2:330–6.
[36] Mutaqin AI, Chaerul M. Characterization of Fly Ash from Coal-fired Steam Power Plant Tarahan, Lampung, and Its Potential as a Soil Amendment. Applied Research in Science and Technology 2025;5:139–154. https://doi.org/10.33292/areste.v5i2.80.
[37] Appiah JK, Berko-Boateng VN, Tagbor TA. Use of waste plastic materials for road construction in Ghana. Case Studies in Construction Materials 2017;6:1–7. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2016.11.001.
[38] Rafi M, Siregar P, Solichin R, Aditia C, Ardiatma D. Pemanfaatan Limbah Plastik Jenis HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) Sebagai Bahan Tambahan Pembuatan Paving Block Untuk Mengurangi Sampah di Universitas Pelita Bangsa. R2J 2025;7. https://doi.org/10.38035/rrj.v7i5.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Advance Sustainable Science Engineering and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
