Effect of PET Resin as Cement Substitute on Properties of Cement Mortar Subjected to Different During Conditions

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has many advantageous properties required for the packaging industry. However, the safe disposal of PET waste is an environmental challenge. The present study investigates the feasibility of using PET resin prepared through glycolysis in polypropylene glycol (20:80 and 30:70 PET-to-glycol ratios) as a replacement for cement (5%, 10%, and 15%) in cement mortar. The effect of PET resin with melamine-formaldehyde as a hardener replacement on the consistency, setting time, soundness, compressive strength, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance was experimentally studied at two different curing conditions viz. under water curing and oven-dry curing. Findings of the present investigation infer that the compressive, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance improves upon oven-dry curing. The study concludes that the use of PET resins improves the attributes of cement mortar and at the same time provides an environmentally friendly way to dispose of the PET waste.