Performance evaluation-PET resin composite composed of red mud, fly ash and silica fume

•Specimens have been fabricated exclusively by using the industrial waste materials.•The change in mechanical strength highly depends upon change in PET resin content.•Higher mechanical strength and damping capacity has been observed in polymer concrete having high PET content.•Low values of water absorption have been observed.•Polymer concrete has shown high resistance against hydrochloric acid. To find the possibility of reducing the solid waste from earth, a new composite has been developed entirely from waste. Recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin (as binder) with fly ash, red mud and silica fume has been manually mixed, molded and cured for final fabrication. The composites have been characterized mechanically. Estimated using Taguchi, for the specimens cured for 420 days, upon increasing PET resin content from 25% to 35%, the compressive strength, flexural strength and indirect tensile strength have been increased by 10.2%, 11.8% and 9.9% respectively. Waste materials have collectively reduced the water absorption. Red mud and silica fume have increased the acid resistance. High amount of PET resin developed high damping capacity.