Properties of mortar produced with recycled clay brick aggregate and PET

This paper studied the fabrication and properties, including strength, water absorption, resistance to sulfate attack and chloride ion penetration, and micro-structure of a new type of mortar made with recycled clay brick (CB) and post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The effects of binder to CB aggregate ratio and curing condition on strength were investigated. The results indicate that binder to CB aggregate ratio had a significant influence on strength. The optimum value was 1:2. For curing condition, specimen cured at 180 °C for 2 h had higher strength. The specimen with proper mix proportion and curing could reach 42.5 MPa and 12.6 MPa for compressive and flexural strength, respectively. Also, the 4-h compressive strength was 85.4% of 28-day strength. The PET mortar had low water absorption of 0.87% and high resistance to sulfate attack and chloride ion penetration. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) test showed that PET mortar had uniform micro-structure with very low porosity. The CB aggregate was well covered by PET. There were no micro-cracks found in the aggregate-paste interfacial area.