Kilmartin-Lynch, S., Roychand, R., Saberian, M., Li, J., Zhang, G., & Setunge, S. (2022). A sustainable approach on the utilisation of COVID-19 plastic based isolation gowns in structural concrete
Pre pandemic, an estimated 2% of plastic-based waste was mismanaged via littering, but recent research shows that COVID-19 triggered an astounding global use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves every month, causing a drastic increase of plastic production. How are we supposed to manage this stuff? In this study, shredded isolation gowns were used as an additive to concrete mixes. In various percentages of the volume of concrete. Structural properties were tested for compression, elastic modulus, and flexural strength through a series of experiments. The shredded isolation gowns increased the compressive strength with all mix designs. Flexural strength properties benefitted from the shredded isolation gowns by improving the crack bridging effect under stress. The concrete mixes also showed increases in the elastic modulus compared to the control mix. While more robust testing would be needed, the results suggest some PPE medical waste has the potential to be a secondary reinforcement material in structural concrete.