Evaluation of Polypropylene Fibers from Shredded Face Masks as Additives in Non-Load Bearing Concrete Hollow Blocks

Abstract

The current study used polypropylene fibers from surgical face masks as additions in non-load-bearing concrete hollow blocks to see if these raw materials affected the mechanical qualities of the standard CHB. However, only the compressive strength test, sieve analysis, and water absorption test were performed in this study other tests were recommended for future researchers who might desire to conduct them. The one conducting the inquiry employed a polypropylene fiber mixture of 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25%; this is the same mixture that researchers use in concrete, and it was decided to use it in concrete hollow blocks. As a matter of fact, the ongoing COVID-19 infection has a significant influence not just on the worth of the nation's economy but also on the daily activities of human life, The use of face masks as PPE is one of the prominent and effective PPE measures adopted by several public health and hygiene measures during COVID-19. The compressive strength of concrete hollow blocks containing polypropylene fiber is 31.64% higher than that of traditional CHB, and this sample contains 0.20% (200 grams) polypropylene fibers that were shredded from a surgical face mask.