Investigation of permeability properties and resistance to aggressive solutions of electronic waste added polymer concretes

This study was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that the adhesion of polymer binders and plastic origin electronic wastes (e-waste) will be more effective and stronger, and therefore the effect of these wastes on the permeability properties of polymer concretes and their resistance against aggressive solutions will be positive. For this purpose, quartz aggregate and gravel used as aggregate in polymer concrete were replaced with e-waste at 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15%. In the study where unsaturated polyester resin was used as a binder, the changes in the capillary water absorption, rapid chloride permeability and the behavior of polymer concretes with e-waste aggregates against acid and sulfate attack were evaluated after 7, 28 and 90 days. Unit weight, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and dynamic modulus of elasticity tests were also carried out and comparisons were made. It was revealed that lightweight polymer concretes can be produced by using e-waste as aggregate. After the control concrete, the highest compressive strengths were obtained from polymer concretes using 3% e-waste as 59,05 MPa, 64,5 MPa and 73,05 MPa for 7, 28 and 90 days, respectively. It was concluded that the quality of polymer concrete with e-waste would not be significantly affected in terms of UPV and would be of good quality. Curing time had a positive effect on the dynamic modulus of elasticity values of different e-waste admixed polymer concretes. The use of e-waste, especially up to 9%, showed that polymer concretes with capillary water absorption coefficient values very close to 0 after 90 days can be produced. Rapid chloride permeability results were negligibly low. The use of e-waste as aggregate in polymer concrete at 3%, 6% and 9% of e-waste, in particular, produced concretes with high resistance to acid and sulfate. The hypothesis of the study was confirmed by extensive experiments.