Lightweight Hollow Block Production Using Recycled Expanded Polystyrene and Coconut Coir: An Experimental Assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62671/circulizer.v1i1.256Keywords:
expanded polystyrene waste; coconut coir fiber; hollow concrete block; lightweight masonry unit; waste valorization.Abstract
The increasing accumulation of non-biodegradable polymer waste and agricultural residues has encouraged the exploration of alternative raw materials for lightweight construction products. This study experimentally investigates the feasibility of incorporating recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) and coconut coir fiber into hollow concrete blocks as composite additives to reduce unit weight. Hollow blocks were produced using conventional cement–sand mixtures with partial volumetric substitution by EPS particles and the addition of coconut coir fiber at controlled proportions. The specimens were cast using standard molds and cured under ambient conditions prior to testing. The primary parameter evaluated was the unit weight of the blocks as an indicator of lightweight material potential. The results show a consistent reduction in unit weight with increasing EPS content, while the inclusion of coconut coir contributed to further weight modification and improved material integrity during demolding. The combined use of EPS waste and coir fiber produced hollow blocks with lower density compared with the control mixture, indicating their suitability for non-structural lightweight applications. However, the study is limited to physical characterization, and no mechanical strength or durability testing was conducted. Therefore, the findings should be interpreted as a preliminary material feasibility assessment. This work demonstrates a practical pathway for valorizing polymeric and lignocellulosic waste in cement-based products while contributing to the development of lower-weight masonry units for applications where load-bearing capacity is not the primary requirement.
References
ACI Committee 213. (2014). Guide for structural lightweight-aggregate concrete (ACI 213R-14). American Concrete Institute.
Babu, K., & Babu, D. (2003). Behaviour of lightweight expanded polystyrene concrete containing silica fume. Cement and Concrete Research, 33(5), 755–762. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0008-8846(02)01055-4
Bogas, J. A., Gomes, A., & Pereira, M. (2012). Self-compacting lightweight concrete produced with expanded clay aggregate. Construction and Building Materials, 35, 1013–1022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.111
Chen, B., & Liu, J. (2004). Properties of lightweight expanded polystyrene concrete reinforced with steel fiber. Cement and Concrete Research, 34(7), 1259–1263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.12.014
Chertow, M. R. (2007). “Uncovering” industrial symbiosis. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 11(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1162/jiec.2007.1110
Fiore, V., Scalici, T., Di Bella, G., & Valenza, A. (2015). A review on basalt fibre and its composites. Composites Part B Engineering, 74, 74–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.12.034
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The circular economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Gu, L., & Ozbakkaloglu, T. (2016). Use of recycled plastics in concrete: A critical review. Waste Management, 51, 19–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.03.005
Li, V. C. (2007). Engineered cementitious composites (ECC): Material, structural, and durability performance. In Concrete construction engineering handbook. CRC Press.
Meyer, C. (2009). The greening of the concrete industry. Cement and Concrete Composites, 31(8), 601–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2008.12.010
Neville, A.M. (2011). Properties of Concrete. Pearson Education Limited, Essex.
Pacheco-Torgal, F., & Jalali, S. (2011). Cementitious building materials reinforced with vegetable fibres: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 25(2), 575–581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.07.024
PlasticsEurope. (2021). Plastics – the Facts 2021: An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data. https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/plastics-the-facts-2021/
Pomponi, F., & Moncaster, A. (2017). Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 710–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.055
Scrivener, K. L., John, V. M., & Gartner, E. M. (2018). Eco-efficient cements: Potential, economically viable solutions for a low-CO₂ cement-based materials industry. Cement and Concrete Research, 114, 2–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.03.015
Siddique, R., Khatib, J., & Kaur, I. (2008). Use of recycled plastic in concrete: A review. Waste Management, 28(10), 1835–1852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2007.09.011
Sabaa, B., & Ravindrarajah, R. S. (1997, December). Engineering properties of lightweight concrete containing crushed expanded polystyrene waste. In Proceedings of the symposium MM: advances in materials for cementitious composites, Boston, MA, USA (pp. 1-3).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
