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Amit Daiya,
Mohit Verma,
Deepak Kumar Tiwari,
- Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
The valorization of post-consumer polymeric waste into high-performance composite materials offers a sustainable strategy for advancing circular economy principles and reducing environmental impacts. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing recycled crumb rubber from end-of-life tires and leather-derived polymeric waste from the footwear industry as sustainable fillers in polymer-modified cementitious composites. Crumb rubber and processed leather waste were incorporated as partial replacements for natural fine aggregate at replacement levels of 0%, 5%, 7%, and 10% in M30 concrete. The effects of polymeric inclusions on fresh properties, mechanical performance, density, water absorption, and thermal conductivity were systematically evaluated.
The incorporation of recycled polymeric materials significantly influenced the structure–property relationship of the cementitious composites. Compressive strength was maintained up to a 5% replacement level, beyond which a gradual reduction occurred, with leather-derived polymeric waste exhibiting superior mechanical performance compared to crumb rubber. Split tensile strength improved at lower replacement levels but declined with increasing polymer content due to weaker polymer–cement interfacial bonding and increased porosity. Conversely, flexural strength benefited from the elastomeric characteristics of the polymeric inclusions, reaching optimum values at 10% crumb rubber and 7% leather waste through enhanced crack resistance and energy absorption. Increasing polymer content reduced composite density and thermal conductivity, producing lightweight composites with improved thermal insulation, although water absorption increased, particularly in leather-modified mixtures. Correlation and hierarchical cluster analyses further revealed distinct relationships among mechanical, thermal, and durability-related properties. Overall, the findings demonstrate that recycled elastomeric and leather-derived polymeric materials can be effectively utilized to develop sustainable polymer–cement composites, contributing to green polymer engineering, recycled polymer composites, and environmentally responsible construction materials.
Keywords: Sustainable polymeric concrete, Polymeric waste, Rubber waste, Leather waste, Thermal conductivity
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 04 | ||
| Received | 29/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 20/08/2026 | |
| Published | 22/08/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 24 Days |