Properties and Structure of Concretes Doped with Production Waste of Thermoplastic Elastomers from the Production of Car Floor Mats.

This article presents physical and mechanical properties of concrete composites that include waste thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) from the production process of car floor mats. Waste elastomer (2-8 mm fraction) was used as a substitute for fine aggregate in quantities of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10% of the cement weight. For all series of concrete, the following tests were carried out: compression strength, bending tensile strength, splitting tensile strength, absorbability, density, resistance to water penetration under pressure, frost resistance, and abrasion resistance, according to applicable standards. Moreover, SEM/EDS analysis was carried out on the surface microstructure of synthesized concrete composites. It was proven that the use of production waste from the production process of car floor mats in the quantity of 2.5% does not influence the change of the concrete microstructure and it does not result in the decrease of the mechanical parameters of concrete modified with waste. All concrete modified with the addition of waste meet standards requirements after carrying out 15 cycles of freezing and thawing, and the average decrease in compression strength did not exceed 20%. Adding waste in the quantity of 2.5% allows for limiting the use of aggregate by about 5%, which is beneficial for the natural environment.