Sustainable Engineered Geopolymer Composites Utilizing Gamma-Irradiated PET and Graphene Nanoplatelets: Optimization and Performance Enhancement

Muhammad Zahid, Yassir M. Abbas (), Nasir Shafiq, Mohammad Iqbal Khan () and Fouad Ismail Ismail
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Muhammad Zahid: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 59071, Pakistan
Yassir M. Abbas: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Nasir Shafiq: Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Malaysia
Mohammad Iqbal Khan: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Fouad Ismail Ismail: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-28

Abstract: Effective waste management is a matter of global concern. The utilization of widely recognized waste materials, such as plastics, rubber, and glass, in the construction industry is being investigated for their cost efficiency, enhanced material properties, and reduced environmental impact, contributing to broader sustainability efforts. This study investigates the development of an engineered geopolymer composite with a focus on sustainability by utilizing industrial waste materials. Gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate was employed as a partial replacement for silica sand, while graphene nanoplatelets were incorporated to enhance composite properties and reduce environmental waste. A statistical technique known as response surface methodology was used to optimize the effects of gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate and graphene nanoplatelets on the properties of the engineered geopolymer composite. Key findings indicate that gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate, with higher crystallinity and robust interfacial bonding with the geopolymer matrix, significantly enhances compressive strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength, and flexural toughness. However, graphene nanoplatelets, while improving mechanical properties, reduce the ductility index. Optimal composite properties were achieved with 26.4% gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate and 0.12% graphene nanoplatelets. This research underscores the potential of gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate in creating high-performance, sustainable construction materials and highlights the trade-offs between mechanical reinforcement and ductility. Future research should explore the chain scission effects of gamma irradiation on polyethylene terephthalate, further optimize composite properties, and investigate mechanisms to enhance ductility, advancing the utilization of polyethylene terephthalate in sustainable construction materials.

Keywords: engineered geopolymer composite; gamma-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate; graphene nanoplatelets; response surface methodology; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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