The Compressive Strength of Concrete with Addition of Single-Use Mask Waste Fiber

Abstract

This research proposes investigating the effect of adding single-use face mask fiber of concrete compressive strength. The fiber was taken from the mask waste as additional material in concrete. The variation of mask fiber content in the concrete are 0%, 0,125%, 0,25%, 0,375%, 0,5%, and 0,75% from total weight of concrete. About 18 cylinder specimens with 150 mm x 300 mm were used to test the compressive strength. Concrete making and testing follow standard testing from ASTM. Specimen tested compressive strength for each variation and compared to the specimen without mask fiber (variation 0%). Test results show decreasing compressive strength aligned with the increasing additional mask fiber. Decreases of compressive strength from 0,125% to 0,75% are 9,34% to 57,23%, sequentially. Compressive strength with mask fiber 0,125% and 0,25% are 20,63 MPa and 18,74 MPa that are still qualified for structural. Meanwhile, the variations 0,375%, 0,5%, and 0,75% the compressive strength under 17 MPa that do not qualify for structural. The optimum addition of mask fiber is 0,125%, decreasing the compressive strength of 9,34% compared to the concrete without mask fiber. Crack after maximum load occurs in different conditions between normal concrete and concrete with mask fiber, which caused of the mask fiber can minimize crack opening. Small crack opening shows the mask fiber content in the concrete has improved the ductility compared to the normal concrete. With an additional 0,125% of mask fiber, it estimates that the amount of adopted mask waste in a 1m³ concrete is 2,75 kg or about 687 pcs mask.