Recycled flexible resins in concrete

Depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste was performed in presence of manganese acetate catalyst. Different ratios of diethylene glycol (DG) to propylene glycol (PG) was used for glycolysis. The weight ratio of PET to the glycols mixture was 1:0.65. The hydroxyl value of the glycolyzed products were determined and the amount of free glycol in each case was analyzed. These glycolyzed products were reacted with maleic anhydride (MA) to prepare a series of unsaturated polyesters having different molecular weights. These polyesters were dissolved in styrene monomer and their curing behavior was investigated. The DG was used to impart flexibility to the cured resin. The compressive strength of the polymer concretes (PC) made with these resins were measured and was found to be comparable to PC made from virgin materials.