PRODUCTION OF INTERLOCKING FLOOR TILES USING WASTE PLASTICS

Abstract

This study is aimed at the production of Interlocking tiles using waste plastics (Low-density polyethene and Polyethylene terephthalate) and sand. In this work, the tiles were produced by mixing sieved river sand with molten plastic. This was done in varying percentages of PET (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%), Sand (70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%), with LDPE being constant at 20%. The tests performed to evaluate the physical and mechanical performance of the tile were weight, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength. The samples were then compared with the control sample a conventional tile with 0% plastic. The result showed that for water absorption, sample B gives the best water absorption value at 1.07, sample D at 1.15, Sample C at 1.40, Sample E at 2.02, and Sample A at 3.32 with the control sample being 1.49. For compressive strength, Sample B has the best compressive strength value at 11.78 N/mm², Sample D 4.21 N/mm², Sample E 4.18 N/mm², sample C 4.11 N/mm², sample A 3.47 N/mm², with the control sample having a value of 4.24 N/mm².For flexural strength, sample B has the best flexural strength at 1.985 N/mm², sample A 1.718 N/mm², sample C 1.124 N/mm², sample D 0.579 N/mm², sample E 0.395 N/mm², with control sample possessing a value of 2.104 N/mm².