Recycling of EVA Foam Waste as A Constituent of Lightweight Concrete Mixture for Construction Application

Abstract

The amount of waste has increased year by year and the disposal becomes serious problem. Particularly, recycling EVA waste in life and industry is low. This study presents a simple way of recycling EVA waste in the field of civil engineering as constituent in mix of light weight concrete, and to evaluate its efficiency to produce a concrete with high strength and lightweight .Also this work aim to study of permeability, sound insulation property for concrete samples with different densities. Experimental study was carried out by preparing different test samples using various proportions of EVA waste (10%, 25%, 40%, 55%, and 70%) in the mix and a blank sample of concrete of grade M25. Samples and Blank were cured in water tanks for 7 days and 28 days. Resulted samples were then tested for compressive strength of concrete and slump value, and then the results were compared with the normal conventional concrete. Results showed that using10% EVA gave the best performance. Accordingly it was concluded that there is an indirect relationships between the amount of the EVA in the mix and the weight of the product. Same relation was notices against compressive strength. An empirical formula to determine the sound insulation of this concrete blocks by using the UPV, The sound insulation of concrete blocks calculated according to a proposed empirical formula made in this work. Finally the results of permeability decrease with increase in replacement percentage of EVA waste compared with the normal conventional concrete, Results showed that using 10% EVA gave the lowest permeability and the best performance. Results of sound insulation showed transmission losses ~ V ~ increased with decreased the average weight per area unit for concrete mixtures. Accordingly it was concluded that there is an indirect relationships between the amount of the EVA in the mix and the sound insulation of the product. Same relation was notices against compressive strength . Study is recommended. to use of industrial EVA waste as replacement of aggregate is better for non loads structure members for examples light weight blocks ,tiles and interlock ,also EVA waste can be used in thermal and water insulation, sound insulation as studio, halls of universities, conference hall , schools.