Design and development of plentiful fly ash-based glass powder-reinforced plastic composite bricks for low water absorption and high compressive and flexural strength

Plastic waste is global chaos with a low recycling rate. Along with the waste plastic waste glass, and fly ash is widely increasing. Using plastic waste along with fly ash and waste glass in the construction and development sector is an opportunity to improve the recycling rate of plastic and boost the nation’s economy. In this paper, an attempt is taken to design the composite bricks developed from fly ash as a matrix material, thermoplastic waste (HDPE and PP) as a binder, and reinforced materials glass powder, and gypsum (CaSO 4 .2H 2 O). The designed samples were subjected to density, water absorption, flexural and compression tests in accordance with IS 1528: Part 15: 2020, IS: 3495: Part 2:1992, ASTM C580-2002, and ASTM C579-2001. With each sample repeatable three times for each polymer concentration, three samples of bricks with polymer contents of 30%, 35%, and 40% were designed. The intended sample’s dry density fluctuates between 1422.33 kg/m 3 and 1589.65 kg/m 3 as its lowest and highest density corresponding to 40% and 3320% polymer content. The designed sample shows an extremely low water absorption rate with a minimum of 0.04% at 30% polymer content and a maximum of 0.88% at 35% polymer content. Flexural strength values for the designed samples with polymer contents of 30%, 35%, and 40%, respectively, are 6.7 MPa, 9.0 MPa, and 8.7 MPa. The compressive strength is found to be 12.2 MPa as minimum compressive strength and 17 MPa as maximum compressive strength at 30% and 35% of polymer content. Microstructural examination of the fractured surfaces discusses the bonding and failure at the fracture. The structure is supported against resilience during the earthquake by the experimental findings of the test parameters.