Experimental Investigation on the Utilisation of Waste Plastic and Glass Bottles for Mosaic Tiles

Mosaic tiles a type of decorative tile typically composed of small, often colourful pieces of ceramic, stone, or other materials. The study focused on utilising plastic and glass waste in the production of mosaic tiles to reduce environmental impact with a wearing-layer and backing-layer. For the backing-layer, a high-performance mortar is developed by partially replacing cement by 10% silica-fumes and 10% metakaolin and with the addition of 2% steel-fibres. The study also investigates utilisation of waste plastic chips in this high-performance mortar with optimum steel-fibre and various percentages of waste plastic chips (10, 15, 20%) are added and its optimum percentage was taken as 20% by analysing the flexural strength. And resulting high-performance mortar mix with optimum steel-fibres and waste plastic chips is used as backing-layer for mosaic tiles whereas wearing-layer consists of glass chips embedded in cement-marble grout. These mosaic tiles were tested for its flexural strength, water absorption, flatness of tile surface, perpendicularity of sides and straightness of sides. Average flexural strength of tiles is obtained as 4.77 N/mm2, whereas average water absorption of tiles is obtained as 2.46% which satisfies the requirement for flexural strength and water absorption as per IS 1237: 2012. Results of flatness test, perpendicularity test and straightness test also shows that they are within the limit as prescribed by IS 1237: 2012. And therefore this tile proves to be a better alternative for the normal tiles. Thus this project has tried to promote sustainable waste reduction practices and environmental responsible construction practices.