Hybrid brick containing fine recycled concrete aggregate and polyethylene terephthalate wastes as partial sand replacement materials

Due to rapid development in Malaysia, demand of construction materials such as brick in the construction sector has increased. Due to that situation, the manufacturer need to used large amount of natural source such as natural aggregate. Development also at the same time producing a large amount of waste such as demolition waste. Other than that, the non-biodegradable substances such as bottles widely have been used by people. The entire situation stated gives a problem to the environment and human itself. Therefore, recycling of the waste and using as a construction material replacement becomes a common feature in the industry. The aim of this research to study the possible use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles as fine aggregate replacement in composite brick. The bricks specimens were prepared by using 100% natural fine aggregate, they were then replaced by RCA at 15%, 30% and 45% with proportions of PET consists of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5% by weight of natural fine aggregate. A series of tests was carried out to study the effect of using RCA and PET on the mechanical properties includes compressive and water absorption tests. The result shows that the replacement of fine aggregate by recycled concrete aggregate at the level of 30% of RCA and 1.0% PET provide the highest compressive and acceptable water absorption compared to other percentage and control specimen. However, if the replacements of PET increase, the strength of brick was decreased for compressive respectively.