VOL. 12, NO. 24, DECEMBER 2017 ISSN 1819-6608 ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences © 2006-2017 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved. www.arpnjournals.com 7400 PROPERTIES OF PAPERCRETE Iqbal N. Gorgis, Harith M. Zaki and Shakir A. Salih Department of Building and Construction Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq E-Mail: 40054@uotechnology.edu.iq ABSTRACT This paper studies the employment of waste, paper as an additional material in concrete mixes. Is simply a mixture, of paper and concrete? A composite made by adding waste paper as a partial addition by weight of cement. It is a, sustainable, building material due to reduced amount of waste paper being put to pretty use. It gains inherent strength due to presence of hydrogen bonds, in microstructure of paper. Papercrete has low cost as compared with alternative building construction material and energy absorption. It has good fire-resistant, sound absorption and thermal insulation. The percent of waste paper used (after treating) namely (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) by weight of cement to explore the properties of the mixes (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, density, thermal conductivity and scanning electron microscope (SEM)). As compared with references mixes, it was found that the fresh properties affected significantly by increasing the waste paper content. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and density were decreased with increasing the percentage of waste paper addition. By using paper pulp with different weight percentages led to decreasing in thermal conductivity. The values of thermal conductivity at 28 days of all mixes range between (1.21 to 0.79 W/m.K). Keywords: papercrete, compressive strength, splitting, strength, flexural, strength, sensity, water, absorption, thermal, conductivity, SEM. INTRODUCTION The use of waste paper has role,in getting rid of their ,huge quantities, which constitute a fundamental environmental problem because of the ,difficulty of its degradation. Various attempts have ,been therefore made in the building material manufactures to use waste material products, According to Resource, information system ,incorporated (RISI), paper recycling ,,has been ,performed about 60% ~ 80% in many ,countries, see (Table-1) (1). The waste problem considered as one of the most crucial problems facing the world as a basis of the environmental contamination. The waste is usually defined as all remains ,objects resulted from production uses ,and transfer ,processes, and in general ,all scattered things ,and resources that must ,dispose to prevent the danger on the health ,of the human and ,save the social environment ,in general (2). Wastepaper has been used as building materials for decades, especially in cementitious; matrices, and since then a lot of research has been conducted to develop; the mechanical properties of the composite like compressive, tensile, flexural strength, and etc. (3). Use of waste paper in structural concrete could become an economical and environmental friendly which helps to minimize harmful effects of construction process, (4 and 5). Paper is the most frequent; type of waste found in all actiity areas and, exemplifies an, important source of cellulous, fibers. In different forms (quality paper, mixed paper, newspapers and journals) paper exemplifies about 41% of all household waste produced today. Paper is a recyclable material; that after reaching the garbage dumps; has a biodegradation period of (3-12) months. That is why the benefits for nature through, paper waste recycling are very important. Paper can be, recycle in the technological flow that has, produced it for the manufacture of paper, or the produce of cardboard and pasteboard. waste paper could be only be, recycled (6-10) times, with each recycling the length of, cellulose fiber is, reduced, that will cause, a decrease in strength and ,quality (appearance, color) of the manufactured paper and an increase, of technological ,losses. Table-1. Recycling ratio of paper in, some countries (1). Kor,ea Ja,pan Chi,na Taiw,an Hong,Kong U.S,.A Canad,a Germ,any U,.K Fra,nce Rec,ycling Ratio (%) 75.4 72 34 68 80 52 68 75 65 64 Cellulose fiber insulation uses recycled newspaper as a raw material, from which raw fibers are extracted and subsequently treated with special additives for fire proofing, as well as for preservation against pests. The manufacture technology includes the application by injection of cellulose fibers. It can ,be applied for thermal insulation; of walls, floors, as well ceilings and roofs enclose ,at the ,same time ,good sound, insulation (2), ,more than 500, million; tons of paper is generated worldwide per annum (6). Papercrete was produced by blending sufficient amount of waste, paper with Portland cement, type I,