RECYCLING AUTOMOTIVE RELATED WASTES IN CONCRETE

Two types of automotive-related wastes, namely Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) which is a fibreglass-reinforced polymer and automotive (shredde r) fluff (AF) are examined for their potential recyclability. The pote ntial recycling techniques first involve the pyrolysis of either the S MC or AF and then the incorporation of the residual ash (either pyroly sed SMC (PSMC) or pyrolysed automotive fluff (PAP)) into concrete. The research results show that PSMC incorporation improves some of the pr operties of concrete, namely it increases the strength, reduces the al kali-aggregate (A-R) reactivity and increases the resistance to chlori de ion diffusion. Also, using PSMC does not significantly change the f reeze-thaw characteristics of the concrete. Using PAF in concrete can also reduce the A-R reactivity, but PAF additions have a negative infl uence on other properties such as strength, sulphate resistance and dr ying shrinkage.