Incorporação de resíduos de processamento de polímeros de REEE na produção de concreto

Abstract

With technological development and human relations increasingly dependent on technologies, the programmed obsolescence was established, increasing the demand for current electronic devices and the disposal of devices considered outdated, generating the waste of electro-electronic equipment. With this, the objective of this work was to study the incorporation of crushed polymeric housing of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the production of conventional concrete for structural purposes, as partial replacement of coarse aggregate. To carry out the work, the polymer was collected from the company Reeecicle, Recife-PE, and the chemical and/or physical characterizations of the components of concrete (cement, sand, crushed stone and polymer) were performed, for subsequent dosage of the mixtures, being a standard (conventional) mix and three mixtures with the addition of polymeric residue in volumetric replacement to the crushed stone, in three proportions: 5, 10 and 20%. In the characterizations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with coupled EDS was used, in addition to compressive strength and flexural tensile tests. According to the research results, the polymer proved to be a potential alternative aggregate, verifying that the composites developed were compatible with the requirements of the Brazilian technical standard in force, thus justifying their possible applications in structural elements, however, the decrease in gravel content resulted in greater porosity and lower mechanical strength of the composite. It was also verified the occurrence of delayed ettringite in the material.