LAUSR

Abstract- A study was conducted to reduce the solid waste problem by developing the mortar composite from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA). Styrene in recycled PET resin is partially replaced by 0–40 wt% methyl methacrylate (MMA). The uncured and cured properties of the nine different resin compositions were evaluated. Furthermore, the resin was optimized through a linear regression analysis depending upon test results, and the optimized resin was used as a binder in a polymer mortar (PM). The PM mixtures were prepared with varying content of optimized resin (10%, 12%, 14%), POFA filler(16%, 18%, 20%), and silica sand (Zones I, II, III). The Taguchi and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to optimize the PM mixes based on mechanical properties. Results showthat the modification of PET resin by MMA decreases viscosity and temperature and increases gel time, leading to improved mixing and mechanical properties of UP:styrene composition. Increasing the resin content from 10% to 14% and POFA filler content from 16% to 20%, the compressive, tensile, and bond strength of PM mixes increases by 19.15%, 75%, 180%, respectively. Based on SEM, it was found that increasing the resin content, POFA content, and finer sand size reduces porosity , improves adhesion between particles, and forms a more; compact and dense mortar. Recycled PET modified MMA PM could be used as precision tool; machine bases, repairing industrial floors, tanks in chemical environments.