Moisture sensitivity of polyester and acrylic polymer concretes with metallic monomer powders

To evaluate the moisture sensitivity of polyester and acrylic polymer concretes with commercial metallic monomer powders, polymer concretes containing different levels of these powders were investigated with respect to the properties of hardened polymer concrete. The mix design was made and optimized for workability, strength, and economy, which depended on the resin viscosity, the intended use, and the additional quantities of the polymeric materials. The investigated properties included the compressive and flexural strengths of hardened polymer concrete. These polymeric materials offer the possibility of using wet aggregates in polyester and acrylic polymer concrete construction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Influences of metallic polymeric materials on the properties of fresh polyester and acrylic polymer concrete

To investigate the influences of three metallic polymeric materials in polyester and acrylic fresh polymer concretes (PCs), PC‐incorporated different levels of these materials have been investigated for their properties of fresh PC. The mix design was made and optimized for workability, strength, and economy, depending on the resin viscosity, the intended use, and the additional quantities of these polymeric materials. The properties investigated include workability, working time, and curing time of fresh PC. It is concluded that these polymeric materials offer the possibility of improving properties of polyester and acrylic fresh polymer concretes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Performance of concretes produced with superplasticizer

Nowadays, additive chemical substances are used in the production of high‐performance concrete composites. These additives increase the fresh workability of concrete by decreasing the water/cement (W/C) ratio. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of water‐soluble polymers on concrete performance. For this purpose concretes with and without additives were produced with W/C values of 0.52, 0.56, and 0.60. Chemical admixtures such as naphthalene formaldehyde sulfonate (N), melamine formaldehyde sulfonate (S), and a hyperplasticizers admixture (a special type of melamine sulfonated polymer) (H) were used in concrete. The amounts of these admixtures were at a ratio of 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 wt % of the cement's weight. Experiments assessing slump, VeBe, percentage of air, and unit weight were done for comparison with the test results of the characteristics of fresh concrete with and without admixtures. The compressive strength of concretes was determined at 7, 28, and 56 days. The effects of chemical admixtures were studied by comparing the properties of fresh and hardened concrete samples with and without admixtures. When the W/C ratios were 0.56, 0.60, and H was 1 wt %, the biggest slump was obtained and found to be 22 cm. Concrete with a W/C ratio of 0.52 and H of 1% has the highest compressive strength. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3214–3219, 2007     

Properties of lightweight expanded polystyrene aggregate concretes containing fly ash

Lightweight concretes can be produced by replacing the normal aggregates in concrete or mortar either partially or fully, depending upon the requirements of density and strength levels. The present study covers the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads as lightweight aggregate, both in concrete and mortar. The main aim of this programme is to study the mechanical properties of EPS concretes containing fly ash and compare the results with these in literature on concretes containing OPC alone as the binder. The effects of EPS aggregate on the green and hardened state characteristics of concretes containing fly ash were evaluated. The compressive strength of the EPS concretes containing fly ash show a continuous gain even up to 90 days, unlike that reported for OPC in literature. It was also found that the failure of these concretes both in compression and split tension was gradual as was observed earlier for the concretes containing plastic shredded aggregates. The stress-strain relations and the corresponding elastic modulus were also investigated.     

Study of the behavior of polyester concretes containing ionomers as curing agents

Polyester concretes have been used in constructions for more than 20 years. This type of polymer concrete can advantageously replace traditional Portland concrete in situations that require fast consolidation of the material. Otherwise, polyester concretes are usually more expensive than Portland concretes. Part of the high cost of the polyester concretes is due to the fact that the aggregates used in the formulation of the concretes need to be dried prior to their incorporation into the polymer matrix. In this work, the use of different curing systems (methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride) was investigated to test the hypothesis that the introduction of acid functionalities into unsaturated polyesters based on isophthalic acid could both restrict the detrimental effect of moisture in the curing process and also improve interfacial interactions even in polyester concretes containing wet aggregates. In this work, as there was no search for ways to reduce cost of polyester concretes and also to contribute to the environmental preservation, unsaturated polyesters were synthesized from PET bottles and tested in the fabrication of concretes by reacting them with a conventional curing agent (styrene). Gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscopy were used to monitor and analyze the production of unsaturated polyester resins and concretes. Mechanical properties were also evaluated by compression tests. Results showed that methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride, when used as curing agents, led to the production of polyester concretes having higher mechanical properties in both dry and wet states than conventional polyester (based on isophthalic acid) concretes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Eco-friendly concretes with reduced water and cement contents — Mix design principles and laboratory tests

The major environmental impact of concrete is caused by CO₂-emissions during cement production. Great potential for reducing the impact is seen especially for concretes with normal strength. The use of superplasticizers and highly reactive cements as well as optimization of particle-size distribution and reduction in water content allows a significant reduction in Portland cement clinker in the concrete. Essential is the addition of mineral fillers (e.g. limestone powder) to provide an optimal paste volume. In addition, the already practicable substitution of secondary raw materials like fly-ash or furnace-slag for cement clinker is an appropriate option which is however limited by the availability of these resources.In several test series the fresh and hardened concrete properties of concretes with reduced water and cement contents were investigated, especially their workability, strength development, design-relevant mechanical properties as well as durability aspects such as carbonation. It was shown that concretes with cement clinker and slag contents as low as 150 kg/m³ were able to meet the usual requirements of workability, compressive strength (approx. 40 N/mm²) and mechanical properties. The carbonation depth of concretes with 150-175 kg/m³ clinker and slag was equal or lower than the depth of conventional reference concretes for exterior structures. The ecological advantages were identified, using environmental performance evaluation. A reduction of up to 35% in environmental impact was calculated compared with conventional concrete and of more than 60% with granulated blast-furnace slag. Practical application was verified by means of full-scale tests in a precast and ready-mix concrete plant.     

Effect of metakaolin dispersion on the fresh and hardened state properties of concrete

The use of pozzolanic materials such as metakaolin in mortars and concretes is growing. Their use is usually related to the promotion of hydraulic binder reactions or to the mitigation of expansive reactions that can occur in concrete. Introduction of fine particles such as metakaolins, can have a strong effect on fresh and hardened state properties. This paper aims to study the effect of metakaolin in concrete formulations with a preset workability and to assess the system rheology but also its hardened state properties such as mechanical strength. The effect that the dispersion of metakaolin particles induces on concrete microstructure, particularly in porosity, is discussed. Formulations were prepared with several metakaolin amounts and workability was controlled either with water or a high range water reducer admixture (HRWRA). The use of HRWRA can cause deflocculation of metakaolin particles, allowing workability control in concrete and leading to better efficiency and improved performance.     

Influence of hydration on the mechanical,structural, thermal,and morphological properties of cement filled epoxy composites

Different loading of Portland cement (PC) (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) was used to produce epoxy-based polymer concrete. The optimum loading was used to prepare another sample using hydration in presence of air circulation. The polymer concretes were characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal, structural and morphological properties. The properties showed increasing trends after cement addition. Results showed that the tensile strength of the polymer concretes were improved by 37.2%, 115.5%, 165.9%, and 40.6% for loading of 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% cement, respectively. In addition, the flexural strength of the polymer concretes was also enhanced and found maximum (175.3% higher) in 30 wt% concrete compared to neat epoxy. Other mechanical properties of the polymer concrete were also found increasing. Moreover, decomposition temperature was raised nearly 15°C for adding 30 wt% cement which was the maximum among the other polymer concretes. For the case of hydration in presence of air circulation, the prepared composite showed the highest tensile mechanical performance with improved surface topography. From the results, it was concluded that the addition of cement into the epoxy was very effective to produce polymer concretes.     

Interfacial adhesion in polyester resin concrete

Silane coupling agents are widely used to improve the interfacial adhesion between the inorganic filler and the organic polymer matrix of polymer concretes. The mechanical properties of the concretes are also found to improve on the addition of silane coupling agents. This paper compares two methods of silane application; pretreatment of aggregates with silane and direct addition of silane to the resin, on the interfacial adhesion in polyester resin concrete for three different silanes. The effects of other parameters, such as the silane loading, predrying of aggregates before silane treatment, addition of CaCO₃ microfiller and pH of the silane treatment medium, are also investigated.     

Studies on Furan Polymer Concrete

Good mechanical properties and excellent chemical resistance of polymer concretes make them cost effective material of construction for civil engineering applications. These properties of polymer concretes are dependant upon the type of polymeric binder and the filler materials used. In the present investigation, a series of polymer concretes based on furan resin have been prepared using an aggregate mix proportion having minimum void content. Density, water absorption and microstructure were studied for different combinations designed on the basis of mixture design concept of design of experiments. The effects of variables on the properties were discussed.     

Effects of diacrylate monomers on the bond strength of polymer concrete to wet substrates

The bond strengths of polymer concretes containing up to 15% (based on polymer resin) of diacrylate (DA) monomers were examined and compared with those without DA. A change occurring with the addition of DA monomers was an increase in the bond strength of polymer concrete to wet substrates. Zinc diacrylate (ZDA) and calcium diacrylate (CDA) were each used as an additive to monomers and resins [methyl methacrylate (MMA), polyester, and two kinds of epoxies]. The variables were amount of the DA monomers and surface conditions (wet or dry and smooth or rough). Bond strengths were measured by tension bond. ZDA was found to improve the bond strength of MMA and polyester, whereas CDA improved the bond strength of epoxies. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 991–1000, 2003     

A model law for the notch sensitivity of brittle materials

In this paper a model law for the notch sensitivity of brittle materials, for instance hardened cement paste, mortar or concrete is presented. This model law shows that notch sensitivity is a necessary however not a sufficient condition for the applicability of linear elastic fracture mechanics. The model law indicates that notch sensitivity of a brittle material decreases with increasing fracture toughness, decreasing tensile strength and decreasing specimen size. The model law explains the increase of the net failure stress of notched specimens with increasing notch depth after passing through a minimum. Such behavior frequently has been observed in experiments on hardened cement paste, mortar and concrete specimens. Results of flexure tests on notched and unnotched hardened cement paste specimens and concretes of various sizes are in accord with the model law.     

Characteristics of a thermally activated alumino-silicate pozzolanic material and its use in concrete

This paper presents the results of the physical and chemical properties of a thermally activated alumino-silicate material (MK), and deals with the properties of fresh and hardened concrete incorporating this material. The properties of fresh concrete investigated included workability, bleeding, setting time, and autogenous temperature rise. The properties of the hardened concrete investigated included compressive, splitting-tensile and flexural strengths, Young's modulus of elasticity, drying shrinkage, resistance to chloride-ion penetration, freezing and thawing, and saltscaling resistance. The properties of the MK concrete were also compared with those of the control portland cement concrete and the silica fume concrete.

The test results indicate that the MK material is highly pozzolanic and can be used as a supplementary cementing material to produce high-performance concrete. Although it requires a higher dosage of the superplasticizer and air-entraining admixture compared with that of the control concrete, the MK concrete can be produced with satisfactory slump, air content, and setting time. The concrete incorporating 10% MK had higher strength at all ages up to 180 days compared with the control concrete; in comparison with the silica fume concrete the MK concrete showed a faster strength development at early ages, but had lower strength after 28 days. At 28 days, the MK concrete had somewhat higher splitting-tensile and flexural strengths, Young's modulus of elasticity, and lower drying shrinkage compared with that of the control and the silica fume concretes. The resistance of the MK concrete to the chloride-ion penetration was significantly higher than that of the control concrete, but similar to that of the silica fume concrete. The MK concrete showed excellent performance in the freezing and thawing test. The performance of the MK concrete subjected to the de-icing salt scaling test was similar to that of the silica fume concrete, but marginally inferior to the control concrete.     

Effects of γ radiation on fiber‐reinforced polymer concrete

Composites were made from 30% unsaturated polyester resin + 70% calcium bentonite and marble as aggregates, as well as 0.3 and 0.4 vol% of nylon fibers. The fiber‐containing polymer concretes (PCs) were subjected to 5, 10, 50, and 100 kGy applied radiation doses. The compressive strength values depend on both the fiber concentration and the irradiation dose applied. Moreover, the polyester‐based PCs containing two mineral aggregates, calcium carbonate and marble, have lower compressive strength values than those reported earlier for PCs containing only either silica sand or CaCO₃. However, significant improvement of the compressive strain and the compression modulus of elasticity are achieved when nylon fibers are added. Both these properties go symbatically with the radiation dose. Mechanical characteristics can be related to the morphological features observed by scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Role of styrene-based shrinkage reducing agent in polyester resin concrete

Studies on the reduction of setting shrinkage of polyester resin concrete with and without the microfiller CaCO₃ by using a styrene/polysterene shrinkage reducing agent are reported. The setting shrinkage of unmodified polyester resin concrete was quite considerable but could be reduced almost to zero by varying the shrinkage reducing agent content. At high shrinkage reducing agent content, expansion of the sample was observed instead of shrinkage. Some differences in the rate of shrinkage in the initial stages of curing were observed, which provides some insight into the role of the two components of the shrinkage reducing agent in the reduction of shrinkage. Reduction of shrinkage was accompanied by a reduction in compressive strength, which suggests the need for a proper compromise between these two properties for developing polyester resin concretes for specific applications.     

Influence of moisture states of natural and recycled aggregates on the slump and compressive strength of concrete

The influence of moisture states of natural and recycled aggregates on the properties of fresh and hardened concretes was investigated. Concrete mixes were prepared with natural and recycled aggregates at different proportions. The moisture states of the aggregates were controlled at air-dried (AD), oven-dried (OD) and saturated surface-dried (SSD) states prior to use. The ratio of cement to free water was kept constant for all of the mixes. At the fresh state, the slump loss for various concrete mixtures was determined, while the compressive strength was determined after curing for 3, 7 and 28 days. The test results showed that the initial slump values of the concrete mixtures were dependent on the initial free water contents, and the slump loss values of the mixtures were related to the moisture states of the aggregates. Slump loss was significant when 100% AD or OD recycled aggregate was used. The effect of the moisture states of the aggregates on the strength of the concretes prepared with OD and SSD state aggregates at early age (i.e., 3 and 7 days) was noticeable. The concrete prepared with the AD aggregates achieved the highest average strength values at 3, 7 and 28 days. However, at 28 days, the concrete strengths prepared with different types of aggregates were similar. The results suggested that an AD aggregate that contains not more than 50% recycled aggregate is optimum for producing normal strength recycled aggregate concrete.     

Deterioration of polyaramid and polybenzimidazole woven fabrics after ultraviolet irradiation

In this study the degradation of woven fabrics of meta‐aramid and the blend of para‐aramid and polybenzimidazole fibers when exposed to environmental conditions has been investigated under accelerated ageing conditions. Generally, these polymeric materials have been used for the outer layer of protective clothing, particularly for fire‐fighting. The performance of these fabrics plays an important role in preventing burn‐injuries to fire fighters. Frequent exposure of these materials to various environmental conditions (especially sunlight) can degrade the polymeric chain and affect their performance properties. Hence, the degradation of the fabrics has been studied in terms of loss of tensile and tear strength; reduction in abrasion resistance; and extension at break. It was observed that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation negatively impacted on the mechanical properties of both the polymeric materials significantly. This can be attributed to chemical changes in the polymeric chains due to the photo‐oxidation of the polymer. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed surface decomposition of the filaments due to UV irradiation. Exposure of polybenzimidazole resulted in rapid loss of mechanical and chemical properties in comparison with meta‐aramid. However, decomposition and degradation of polybenzidimazole was not statistically significant. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43073.     

New polymer materials based on silicone‐acrylic copolymer to improve fastness properties of reactive dyes on cotton fabrics

New polymer materials, based on silicone‐acrylic copolymer containing cationic groups, were synthesized through radical mechanism and ring‐opening polymerization of cyclosiloxane. The polymers of polyacrylate/polysiloxane improved the fastness properties of reactive dyes on cotton. In comparison with those of polyacrylate‐containing cationic groups, the wash fastness and wet rubbing fastness of the dyed cotton fabric treated with the new polymer materials were better. The handle of the fabric with aftertreatment was also good. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 720–725, 2006     

Effect of elevated temperatures on mechanical properties of high‐strength concrete containing varying proportions of hematite

Aggregates typically constitute 70 to 80 wt% of concrete, and therefore their type, size, and structure play an essential role in modifying the properties of concrete. When concrete is used for shielding nuclear applications, temperature is also a key factor. This study investigates the effects of elevated temperatures (25 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C), heating durations (1, 2, and 3 h), and cooling regimes (air, and water cooling) on mechanical properties of concrete containing different proportions of hematite. A sample of plain concrete was produced for comparison purposes by using river sand, crushed sand, and crushed aggregates. Replacement ratios of 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% were used for hematite aggregates. The cement content and water–cement ratio were 450 kg/m³ and 0.38, respectively. Slump values of fresh concretes as well as unit weight, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and elasticity modulus values of hardened concrete were determined. The addition of hematite into concrete seems to improve its mechanical properties, and hematite concretes have better thermal stability at elevated temperatures than plain concrete does. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.