Investigatory Project Proposal

Plastic Cement

Introduction
Cement is widely used nowadays. It serves as a binder of sand and gravel to form
concrete or for uniting the surfaces of various materials. It is very durable thus, frequently used
in construction. Unfortunately, it is now costly. Plastics, on the other hand, are very common and
could be acquired easily.

We aim to study how plastic, as an additive of cement, affects it and if it is possible for
the plastic to be its main component. Also, we aim to recycle plastics and be able to use them in a
very useful manner. Lastly, it is aimed to have cheaper materials in construction. We will not,
however, use any other synthetic materials aside from those above.

The initial benefactor of this project will be the school. The plastic cement will be used
by the school in its construction works. It will then help in recycling the plastics used in school.
And if the plastic cement proves itself useful, it is to be suggested to those in the community.
Using this kind of cement will be beneficial to both the user and the environment.

Review of Related Literature

Cement is any material that hardens and becomes strongly adhesive after application in
plastic form. Cements are made in a wide variety of compositions for a wide variety of uses. The
term cement is often used in engineering and building construction; it usually refers to a finely
powdered, manufactured substance consisting of gypsum plaster or portland cement that hardens

Investigatory Project Proposal

and adheres after being mixed with water. (source: Microsoft Encarta Premium Encyclopedia
2006)

They may be named for the principal constituents, such as calcareous cement, which
contains silica, and epoxy cement, which contains epoxy resins; for the materials they join, such
as glass or vinyl cement; for the object to which they are applied, such as boiler cement, or for
their characteristic property, such as hydraulic cement, which hardens underwater, or acidresisting cement, or quick-setting cement. Cements used in construction are sometimes named
for their commonly reported place of origin, like Roman cement, or for their resemblance to
other materials, such as portland cement, which produces a concrete resembling the Portland
stone used for building in England. Cements that resist high temperatures are called refractory
cements. Cements set, or harden, by the evaporation of the plasticizing liquid such as water,
alcohol, or oil, by internal chemical change, by hydration, or by the growth of interlacing sets of
crystals. Other cements harden as they react with the oxygen or carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. (source: Microsoft Encarta Premium Encyclopedia 2006)

Cement used in construction is characterized as hydraulic or non-hydraulic. Hydraulic

cements (e.g., Portland cement) harden because of hydration, chemical reactions that occur
independently of the mixture's water content; they can harden even underwater or when
constantly exposed to wet weather. The chemical reaction that results when the anhydrous
cement powder is mixed with water produces hydrates that are not water-soluble. Non-hydraulic
cements (e.g., lime and gypsum plaster) must be kept dry in order to retain their strength.
(source: wikipedia.org)

Investigatory Project Proposal

Plastics, materials made up of large, organic (carbon-containing) molecules that can be

formed into a variety of products. The molecules that compose plastics are long carbon chains
that give plastics many of their useful properties. Some plastics can be alloyed, or blended, to
combine the advantages possessed by several different plastics. Plastics can be made hard as
stone, strong as steel, transparent as glass, light as wood, and elastic as rubber. Plastics are also
lightweight, waterproof, chemical resistant, and produced in almost any color. (source: Microsoft
Encarta Premium Encyclopedia 2006)

Plastics are moldable, synthetic (chemically-fabricated) materials derived mostly from

fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, or natural gas. The raw forms of other materials, such as glass,
metals, and clay, are also moldable. The key difference between these materials and plastics is
that plastics consist of long molecules that give plastics many of their unique properties, while
glass, metals, and clay consist of short molecules. (source: Microsoft Encarta Premium
Encyclopedia 2006)

A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids

used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular
mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs.
Monomers of plastic are either natural or synthetic organic compounds. (source: wikipedia.org)

Investigatory Project Proposal

In general, materials that are made up of long, chainlike molecules are called polymers.
Polymers have a number of vital properties that makes a significant and expanding contribution
to constructional needs. They are durable and corrosion resistant, economical and has a longer
life, and are lightweight.

Plastic cement, also known as poly cement, can be used to join different items. This type
of glue works best on unpainted strong plastics, as weak plastics and metals can experience
devastating effects due to the glues melting capability. They are a special type of adhesive liquid
that are most effective in securing plastic to plastic bonds. They work by melting the surface on
contact and allowing two pieces of plastic to fuse together, creating a secure bond. While most
plastic cements are used to bond two, or more, pieces of plastic, some varieties can successfully
be used to secure other materials--including metal, ceramic and wood. (source: eHow.co.uk)

Plastic cement provides high resistance to heat and moisture. It can effectively be used on
both wet and dry surfaces. Plastic cement typically appears as a black, thick paste denoting its
petroleum base. It can be used for exterior as well as interior sealing applications, and to close
gaps in eaves, skylines, flashings, vents and roof. It is also an effective way to bond plastic PVC
pipes for plumbing works. It can easily be mixed with sand to form stuccos and plasters, which
can be applied as a wood sealant to prevent rot, and to attach loose pieces of furniture together.
(source: How.co.uk)

Investigatory Project Proposal

Plastic cement is useful for woodworking projects, and to repair holes, cracks and splits
in wood. It also helps salvage metal, rubber, ceramics, glassware and plastic items. Plastic
cement provides an effective and quick bond to laminates and veneers. (source: eHow.co.uk)

The rapid Urbanization and Industrialization all over the world has resulted in large
deposition of Plastic waste. This waste can be utilized under proper condition to reduce the
Cement content in Concrete.M20 concrete is used for most of the constructional works, since it
gives maximum strength. The strength of this concrete was compared with concrete obtained of
shredded Plastic waste varying from 2-8%. Experimental investigations comprised of testing
physical requirements of coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, cement and the modifier. M20
concrete was prepared as per IS SP: 23-1982. The said percentage of modifier was blended with
the cement concrete mix and the optimum modifier content was found. Cubes were cast and
tested for 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 day strength. These tests revealed that by adding modifier, the
strength of concrete increased. At 5% optimum modifier content, the strength of the modified
concrete was found to be 1.2 times greater than the plain cement concrete. By using Plastic waste
as modifier, we can reduce the quantity of cement and sand by their weight, hence decreasing the
overall cost of construction .The Modified cement concrete can be used in the construction of
small drainage works and rigid pavement which leads to decrease in the overall thickness of the
pavement.
(source: scientific.net)