Use of Recycled Plastic Water Bottles in Concrete Blocks

The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of using plastic bottles in concrete block. The plastic bottles were used to create voids at equal distance between them in the masonry units. Concrete was placed around each bottle to encase it in the masonry units. The study utilized 500-mL plastic bottles placed inside concrete masonry units and analyzed the compressive strength. The testing for compressive strength was determined according to the ASTM C140 standard. Results from this study were deemed reasonable due to the testing of concrete cylinders as a control of compressive strength for the concrete blocks from Oman's market. This study shows 57% difference in the strength by using plastic bottles compared to local concrete blocks. This proves the necessity for further research regarding concrete mix design, amount of cement and properties of local concrete blocks as well as other technical and non-technical aspects to determine the appropriate mix design and feasibility in the production industry.