Recycled carpet in concrete boosts strength, reduces cracking

Scrap carpet fibres can be a key ingredient in stronger, crack-resistant concrete, a research team from RMIT University is proving. 

The team is currently engaging with partners including Textile Recyclers Australia, Godfrey Hirst Australia and councils in Victoria, conducting field studies of on-ground slabs incorporating reclaimed textiles, according to a statement from the university of Tuesday.  

Early-age shrinkage cracking in concrete had been reduced by up to 30 per cent using a technique developed by the team of researchers, according to lead Dr Chamila Gunasekara (pictured right.)

“Scrap carpet fibres can be used to increase concrete’s strength by 40% in tension and prevent early cracking, by reducing shrinkage substantially,” said Gunasekara, an ARC DECRA fellow from RMIT’s School of Engineering.

“Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a long-standing challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety.”

Crack repairs in reinforced concrete structures cost an estimated $8 billion each year in Australia. 

The team’s latest results, published in the Construction and Building Materials journal (linked), show waste carpet material can be used to improve concrete. The team of civil engineers and textile researchers has also been able to use other discarded textiles, including clothing fabrics, in strengthening concrete.

Picture: Nayanatara Ruppegoda Gamage and Chamila Gunasekara with concrete samples made with carpet fibres (supplied)

Further reading

LoomTex textile waste turns into park benches

Australian company offers the world a S.O.F.T. option for problem textiles  

Textile recycling a step we have to take

Industry tackles our mountains of furniture waste

Industry tackles our mountains of furniture waste

Bathurst recycling trial found use for 1,600 kilograms of textiles in a month