DEVELOPMENT OF WALKWAY BLOCK FROM RECYCLED WASTE FOAM WITH CHEMICAL AND THERMAL METHODS

Abstract

This research studied the feasibility of using waste foam to replace cement and treated waste foam by using chemical and thermal methods for producing walkway blocks. Moreover, the development of mechanical properties of walkway blocks by addition of sand and dust rock were also investigated. Soy bean oil to waste foam ratio of 0.42 and the mixed fine aggregate levels of waste foam with sand or dust rock of 0, 20, 40 and 60 % by weight of recycled waste foam combined fine aggregate were used in this study. The cube specimen size of 5 x 5 x 5 cm was used for compressive strength and unit weight tests. In additions, the walkway block size of 30 x 30 x 2 cm was tested for flexural strength and water absorption at the age of 3 days. The test results showed that the specimens mixed of waste foam with dust rock at 40% level resulted in higher compressive and flexural strength values than those with specimens mixed of waste foam with sand and pure waste foam specimens. The unit weight increased with the mixed level of sand and dust rock increased while the water absorption values of all specimens were steady at 0%. However, the synthesized walkway blocks can be used as the commercial block in pavement works and passed the standard set by Thai Industrial Standard (TIS 378-2531) for concrete flooring tiles.