Development of fly ash–polymer-based paver blocks by powder metallurgy processing technique

Currently, polymer-based materials are extensively used for domestic applications due to their ease of economic production and desirable strength. However, most of the polymer materials are non-biodegradable. Hence, conservational environmental policies mandate the replacement or recycling of polymer-based domestic products and components. Besides, discarding fly ash, produced from coal-fired thermal power plants, in dumpsites aggravates environmental pollution (including groundwater resources). Hence, devising effective waste-management strategies or developing technologies for recycling wastes (polymers and fly ash) is the need of the hour. This research study focuses on the development of sintering technology to fabricate pavement blocks using polymer wastes and fly ash. The coupon-level specimens were fabricated by varying the sintering process parameters, and the following properties were evaluated: macrostructure, hardness, density, wear rate, friction coefficient and water absorption. The influence of sintering process parameters (temperature and time) on the properties of the developed specimen was analysed using hybrid polynomial–radial basis function models.