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RECYCLED WASTE TEXTILES AS REINFORCEMENT IN CEMENT BLOCK

Conference Paper · December 2022

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 6th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE-2022)
21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

RECYCLED WASTE TEXTILES AS REINFORCEMENT IN CEMENT

BLOCK

S. Hossain* 1, I. A. Dipta 2, M. A. Alam3 and A. Habib4

*1 M. Sc. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
19201028@student.duet.ac.bd
2Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering,, Bangladesh Army International University of Science & Technology, Cumilla

Cantonment, Cumilla, Bangladesh.

dipta@baiust.edu.bd
3 Director-General, Housing and Building Research Institute. Darus-salam, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

dg@hbri.gov.bd
4 Senior Research Officer, Building Materials Division, Housing and Building Research Institute. Darus-salam, Mirpur,

Dhaka, Bangladesh.
ahbangla@yahoo.com
*Corresponding Author

Abstract

Now a day, researchers are paying attention to conduct research on composite materials in the construction areas
focusing broadly on two aspects: making the structures lightweight and using the waste materials. The textile
industries in Bangladesh are producing a huge amount of wastes, which has been a major challenge for handling
and processing in order to be recycled. Therefore, the present study aims to use this textile waste in the
construction industry. This paper provides an experimental investigation on the compressive strength of mortar
samples made with different types of textile fibers, i.e., cotton fiber, denim fiber, coconut fiber, jute fiber, and
cellulose (cloths) fiber at five different percentages (0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3%), respectively, with a
constant water-cement ratio (0.55). Dry density, wet density, water absorption capacity, as well as the
compressive strength of mortar cubes, were measured at 7, 14, and 28 days. Results evidenced that the dry
density of normal sand-cement block was maximum (1970 kg/m3) among all samples, indicating the fibers from
all types are capable of creating a lightweight sand-cement block. Moreover, cotton waste with different
percentages of addition with cement shows high strength at every stage of the curing test, of them, the addition
of 1.5% gives the highest compressive strength than the normal mixture which is 1412 psi and 1402 psi
respectively. Also, cotton fiber shows lower water absorption capacity. On the other hand, cellulose (cloths)
fiber provides lower strength in different percentages of mixing. However, the priorities can give to use waste
textile cotton and denim (blue jeans) fiber as the binding materials with cement for further study.

Keywords: Composite materials; lightweight; waste materials; mortar; compressive strength.

1. Introduction

Solid waste disposal is a big problem all over the world. Recycling and repurposing of these waste products is
becoming more common around the world, particularly in the building industry. In recent years, recycled
aggregates have gained widespread acceptance to the researchers as a substitute for aggregate both coarse and
fine and using as fiber reinforcement in the building industry, reducing the usage of natural resources (Islam &
Siddique, 2017). However, as the use of wastes in engineering applications grows, so does the need for a better
understanding of the composite material's engineering behavior (Reis, 2009). Textile (cotton, jute and cellulose)
fibers cutting waste from industries and tailoring workshops is disposed of as waste in heaps, creating a disposal
issue as well as pollution to the environment (Rowell, 2000). On the other hand natural fibers, such as coconut
and jute fiber, have certain physical and mechanical properties that can be used to build reinforced concrete
materials. These coconut and jute fibers are frequently discarded as agricultural waste, making them easily
available in huge quantities and thus inexpensive (Nadgouda, 2014). Many types of fibers recovered from
different waste streams are appropriate for concrete reinforcement, according to studies (Rowell, 2000).
Polymer concrete can be reinforced with both synthetic and natural fibers, according to reports (Reis,& Ferreira,
2003, Reis & Ferreira, 2004 and Reis, 2006). When textile waste cuttings are combined with a thermosetting
polymer as a binder, a new composite material is created that can be used for low-cost, light-weight construction
(Aspiras & Manalo, 1995, Fowler,1999). Chemical resistance and mechanical strength have both improved. It
has been reported that waste cloth integrated polymer concrete has brittle properties, limiting its use in load-
bearing applications (Letsh, 2002).

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21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

The primary purpose of this research is to conduct experiments to improve the qualities of concrete by
reinforcing it with textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) waste fibers, coconut fibers, and jute fibers. In order to
achieve this goal, the following objectives have been identified:

1. To know effect of addition of textile (cotton, jute and cellulose) wasted fibers, coconut and jute fibers
on compressive strength, water absorption and density of concrete
2. To provide an alternative light weight material.
3. To evaluate the performance of textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted fibers, coconut and jute
fibers reinforced concrete in reducing cracking.
Use of textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted fibers, coconut and jute fibers can lead to the improvement
in properties of cement concrete in addition to providing a proper solution for disposal of this natural waste. The
purpose of this study is to compare the qualities of textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted fibers, coconut
and jute fibers concrete to those of conventional concrete.

In this research work, these textile(cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted fibers, coconut and jute fibers collected
from Jhate palli, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh cut into small pieces and mixed with conventional concrete to
study physical-mechanical properties and explored the positive application in construction industry.

2. Materials and Methodology

2.1 Materials
The materials used in making sand cement blocks were sand, cement, textile (cotton, jute and cellulose) wasted
fibers, coconut and jute fibers. The textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted fibers cut fibers were taken from
Mirpur Jhute Palli, Mirpur, Dhaka and were made out of a mix of synthetic and semi-synthetic cloth pieces that
were cut into small sizes approximately 10mm x 10mm as shown in Fig 1. A sand cement block mix was
designed to achieve the ratio of 1:4. The experiment was done by taking additional 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and
3% (by weight) of textile (cotton, denim and cellulose) wasted. Coconut and jute fibers in the sand cement mix.
Coconut and jute fibers were obtained from the local market.

2.2 Cement
Locally available Shah Cement of Bangladesh CEM - II/B 52.5 N purchased commercially from the local
market and used in case of control mix. The physical properties and specifications of the cement obtained from
different tests as per BS 12:1991 and ASTM standard. The test was conducted in HBRI laboratories and results
are summarized below as shown in table -1.

2.3 Dredged Sand

Because of being a riverine country, the availability of the dredged sand is abundant. Dredged Sand is a
naturally occurring granular material as well as fine aggregate composed of finely divided rock and mineral
particles (Taiwo & Olamoju, 2019). The composition of dredged sand is highly variable, depending on the local
rock sources and conditions. The Dredged sand was collected from the river named Kopotakkho, Satkhira,
Bangladesh and used as fine aggregate. The sand were clean, sharp, less amount of clay and organic matter and
well graded, the properties with the test results are shown in table 2.

2.4 Water
Water is the most important and least expensive ingredient of concrete. In the process of creating the binding
matrix, which holds the inert aggregate suspended until the matrix has hardened, hydration of cement uses a
portion of the mixing water. The remaining water provides permanent workability by acting as a lubricant
between the fine and coarse aggregate. Impurities in the mixing water cause concrete to lose some of its strength
and durability. Concrete must be mixed with clean water that contains no harmful levels of oils, alkalis, salts,
organic compounds, or other contaminants that could harm the concrete. In this study drinking water have been
used in mixing of concrete which is supplied from deep tube well of Housing & Building Research Institute
(HBRI) and is known to have no unusual impurities.

2.5 Textile Wasted and Nature Fibers

Five fibers were used in sand cement block. Three fibers from textiles wasted i.e. Cotton fiber, Denim (Jeans
cotton) fiber, waste Cellulose fiber and two fibers from natural fiber i.e. Coconut fiber and Jute fiber. In size
reduction, mixed textile wastes were cut into pieces approximately (1~1.2cm length x 1cm width) and mixed
coconut fibers were cut into pieces approximately (0.5~0.75 cm length x 0.4~0.75 cm width) and jute fibers

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 6th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE-2022)
21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

were cut into pieces (1.5~2 cm length x 0.2~0.3 cm width) manually. Sample picture of raw materials are shown
on figure - 1.

(a) Dredged sand (b) Cement (c) Cotton fiber (d) Jute fiber

(e) Denim (Jeans Cotton) fiber (f) Cellulose (cloth) fiber (g) Coconut fiber
Figure. 1 Raw materials of cement block

Table 1: Properties of cement

SL no Test Conducted Test Results
1. Normal Consistency 25 %
2. Initial Setting Time 135 min
3. Final Setting Time 185 min
4. Compressive Strength 3 days – 1986 Psi
7 days-2990 Psi
28 days- 4142 Psi
5. Fineness 99.4% passing in No. 100 US sieve.
6. Specific Gravity 3.14

Table 2: Properties of Dredged sand

Sl no. Properties of Kopotakkho river Results
dredged sand
1. Fineness Modulus (FM) 1.2
2. Specific Gravity 2.71
3. Organic Matter Content 1.0-2.5 %
4. Liquid Limit 46.50 %
5. Plastic Limit 31.60 %
6. Plasticity index 14.95 %
7. Shrinkage Limit 14 %
8. Sand 04 %
9. Silt 90 %
10. Clay 06 %

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21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

2.5 Mix Design

For sand cement block, the mix design ratio for cement and sand was 1: 4, respectively with water cement
(W/C) ratio of 0.55. The mix design for Cotton fiber, Denim fiber, Cellulose fiber, Coconut fiber and Jute fiber
block was the same as that of sand cement block.

The following tests are performed on concrete blocks reinforced with different fiber:
1. Compressive strength (7,14 and 28 days)
2. Water absorption (7,14 and 28 days)
3. Dry and wet density (7,14 and 28 days)

The different sizes of textile waste and fibers (length x width) were added to the same amount of total volume.
All fibers were taken by mass of total volume as show in table – 3.

Table 3. shows the designation and mix ratios

% of Fiber Cement Sand Water Fiber
Materials
(addition) Gm Gm Gm gm
Normal Sand cement block 0% fiber 320 1280 176 0

Mixed with Cotton 1% 320 1264 176 16

1.5% 320 1256 176 24
2% 320 1248 176 32
2.5% 320 1240 176 40
3% 320 1232 176 48

Mixed with Denim Cloths 1% 320 1264 176 16

1.5% 320 1256 176 24
2% 320 1248 176 32
2.5% 320 1240 176 40
3% 320 1232 176 48

Mixed with Jute 1% 320 1264 176 16

1.5% 320 1256 176 24
2% 320 1248 176 32
2.5% 320 1240 176 40
3% 320 1232 176 48

Mixed with Coconut Fiber 1% 320 1264 176 16

1.5% 320 1256 176 24
2% 320 1248 176 32
2.5% 320 1240 176 40
3% 320 1232 176 48

Mixed with Cellulose Fiber 1% 320 1264 176 16

1.5% 320 1256 176 24
2% 320 1248 176 32
2.5% 320 1240 176 40
3% 320 1232 176 48

2.6 Mortar Mixing and Casting of Specimens

In this experiment, mortar is manually mixed for casting of cube according to mix design. To ensure the quality
strength, the following format followed sequentially for mixing concrete. For cube compressive strength test (2-
inch x 2-inch x 2-inch) size cubes were cast. First properly mixed fine aggregate then mixed binding materials
(OPC), water and different percent of fibers for addition (1%,1.5%, 2%,2.5%,3%) mix with proportion of mix
design. Finally mix all ingredient by mixture machine and hand for the casting of cube specimens.

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21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

(a) Fibers mixing with raw materials (b) Mortar mixing and casting (c) Preparation of mold

(d) Tempering in molding (e) After tempering in molding (f) Prepared Sand Cement block
Figure. 2 Steps of making cement block
3. Results and Discussions

Table 4 shows the cube compressive strength, density and water absorption of textile waste and natural fiber
sand cement blocks after 28 days of curing. For each type of fibers and percentage, average test results for
compressive strength, density and water absorption of sand cement blocks are reported.

3.1 Compressive Strength

ln terms of compressive strength, it is seen that the compressive strength of blocks for cotton fiber the addition
of 1.5% and 2.5% at was the highest (1412 psi) among all. The compressive strength of a normal sand cement
block result (1402 psi) is very low because of our sand FM was 1.20. The compressive strength value of normal
sand cement block was very close to that of cotton fiber block and the addition of 1% denim fiber was the
medium value (1228 psi). Although it is suggested that 1.5%, 2.5% cotton and 1% denim fiber the addition
shows good result after 28 days. Addition of 1% for Cellulose fiber (456 psi) was obtained for the lowest value
among all shown in figure-3.
Compressive strength, Psi

1500 1500
Compressive strength, Psi

1000 1000

500 500

0 0
0% 1% 1.50% 2% 2.50% 3% 0% 1% 1.50% 2% 2.50% 3%
% of Cotton Fiber % of Denim fiber
7 Days 14 Days 28 Days
7 Days 14 Days 28 Days

(a) (b)

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 6th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE-2022)
21-23 December 2022
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace
Compressive Strength, Psi

1500 1500

Compressive Strength, Psi

1000 1000

500 500

0 0
0% 1% 1.50% 2% 2.50% 3% 0% 1% 1.50% 2% 2.50% 3%
% of Cellulose fiber % of Coconut fiber

7 Days 14 Days 28 Days 7 Days 14 Days 28 Days

(c) (d)
Compressive Strength, Psi

1500

1000

500

0
0% 1% 1.50% 2% 2.50% 3%
% of Jute fiber

7 Days 14 Days 28 Days

(e)
Figure 3: Compressive strength of sand cement blocks and various fibers mix percentages
3.2 Dry Density
It shows that the density of blocks for normal sand cement block with zero percent mixed fiber was the highest
(1970 kg/m3) among all the investigated samples. On the other hand, addition of 3% for Cellulose fiber mixed
with sand cement block was achieved the lowest value (1552 kg/m3) among all samples.

3.3 Water Absorption

The water absorption of sand cement blocks mixed with addition of 1% coconut fiber was found to be the
highest (18.42%) among all types. Addition of 1% for Cotton fiber mixed with sand cement blocks was
achieved the lowest value (10.00%) among all samples and the water absorption value of normal sand cement
block was achieved the value (9.57%). The water absorption value of cotton fiber addition of 1.5% mixed with
sand cement blocks was very close to that cotton fiber percentage of 1. Cotton fiber 1%, cotton fiber 1.5%
blocks and normal sand cement blocks was within the acceptable range as recommended for first class bricks.

Table 4: Compressive strength, Dry and Wet density and Water absorption of sand cement blocks

% Addition Dry Water

Compressive Wet density
Materials of Waste density Absorpti
strength(psi) (kg/m3)
Fiber (kg/m3) on (%)
Normal Sand cement block 0 1402 1970 2075 9.57
Mixed with Cotton 1% 1263 1825 1935 10.00
1.5% 1412 1776 1873 10.34
2% 1307 1717 1852 11.20
2.5% 1412 1677 1762 12.37
3% 1049 1608 1710 13.17

Mixed with Denim Cloths 1% 1228 1848 2137 15.27

1.5% 533 1732 1877 15.70
2% 852 1670 1790 16.23
2.5% 577 1611 1761 17.49

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 6th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE-2022)
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CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
www.cuet.ac.bd/icace

3% 555 1562 1692 18.34

Mixed with Cellulose Fiber 1% 456 1819 1941 11.74

1.5% 523 1735 1910 12.34
2% 560 1676 1806 12.96
2.5% 576 1627 1772 13.30
3% 571 1552 1732 14.50

Mixed with Coconut Fiber 1% 725 1878 2106 14.42

1.5% 491 1770 1910 16.44
2% 500 1726 1876 16.92
2.5% 661 1651 1791 17.19
3% 641 1595 1745 18.42
Mixed with Jute 1% 689 1810 2011 12.61
1.5% 772 1753 1905 13.40
2% 585 1693 1845 14.60
2.5% 500 1634 1776 15.68
3% 526 1562 1673 16.22

4. Conclusion

 We can reduce environmental waste by enhancing the sand cement blocks with freely available textile
waste fibers.
 Compressive strength increases in case of (1.5% and 2.5%) cotton fiber mixed. As a result, construction can
be more cost-effective.
 Addition of textile waste i.e. denim and cellulose fibers and natural fiber i.e. coconut and jute fibers in the
sand cement block reduces compressive strength due to loss of cohesion.
 Since, maximum percentage fibers specially, cellulose (cloth), coconut and jute fibers do not show
favorable results, it can be concluded that fiber content should be used mixed with admixture but cotton
fiber gives good results in the same proportion.
 The low density of textile waste (cotton, denim and cellulose) and natural (jute and coconut) fibers reduces
the overall weight of fibers sand cement block, effectively it can be used as structural light weight blocks.
 The study indicated that the compressive strength, density and water absorption of textile waste and natural
fibers was comparable with the normal sand cement blocks.

5. Acknowledgement

The authors convey their profound gratitude and appreciations to Jahidul Islam, Ex-student of Department of
Civil Engineering, WUB for his invaluable supporting and encouragement throughout the study. They also give
thanks to the authority of HBRI to give them this opportunity and also give thanks to WUB.

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