Corrosion behaviour of steel rebars in reinforced concrete containing thermoplastic wastes as aggregates

In the frame of an extended research program dealing with the utilization of thermoplastic wastes in concrete, the effect of the above polymers on the reinforcement corrosion of concretes containing them as aggregates has been studied. Two types of thermoplastic waste were used, high density polyethylene and polypropylene. Measurements were carried out in order to investigate whether the corrosion behaviour of the rebars has changed due to the replacement of the conventional aggregates by the polymers, up to 240 days of immersion of specimens in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Results showed that the replacement of conventional aggregates by the two polymers studied does not worsen rebars’ corrosion behaviour.

► The polymers were used as a replacement of fine aggregates.
► Compressive strength decreases when conventional aggregates are replaced.
► Strength reduction can easily be compensated with a proper mix design.
► Corrosion behaviour is not influenced by this replacement of aggregates.