Fabrication and characterization of cement based floor tiles using eggshell and plastic wastes as a low cost construction materials

Eggshells and plastic wastes are non-biodegradable in nature and causes several issues to the environment and public health. Present study was aimed to utilize eggshells and plastic waste (polyethyleneterephthalate) for the fabrication of floor tiles replacing with sand and aggregates. For this purpose, processed eggshells and plastic wastes were mixed in different proportions (cement: eggshell: plastic) i.e. 1:0:1, 1:2:1; 1:1:2; 1:2:2; 2:2:1; 2:1:2; 2:1:1, 1:1:0; 0:1:1 and 1:1:1. From the waste prepared tiles the optimized ratio i.e. 1:2:1 was selected and values of various properties such as density (2120 kg/m3), water absorption (0.45%), fire resistance (12.15%), chemical resistance (0.45%), compressive strength (53 N/mm2) and impact resistance (1.25 m) were obtained. It was observed that increasing eggshells and cement leads to an increase in density, fire resistance, chemical resistance, compressive strength and impact resistance while the water absorption rate was decreased. Addition of calcium oxide into the eggshells made the materials to have cementitious properties and its use in construction reduces the carbon dioxide emissions in to the environment. Plastic addition also reduces the water absorption rate. Further, control tile sample prepared from cement, sand and aggregate (1:2:3) showed density of 2326 kg/m3, water absorption of 0.38%, fire resistance of 8.9%, chemical resistance of 0.19%, compressive strength of 58 N/mm2 and impact resistance of 1.32 m. Preliminary cost estimated of waste based tile and control sample tile were 22 and 120 ETB (Ethiopian birr) per m2 area, respectively whereas commercially available tile is around 180 ETB in the local market.