Development of polymer concrete with polybutadiene matrix

Composite materials based on polymer binders and mineral fillers are widely used as structural chemically resistant, vibration and impact proof materials for industrial construction and chemical machinery. Up to the present hetero-chain polymers, unsaturated polyesters, polyepoxy and polyuretanes are applied as binders of such concrete-polymer composites. A new type of conglomerate composites-polymer concrete based on polybutadiene belonging to the liquid rubbers (RubCon—Rubber Concrete) has been enveloped and investigated. Such a rubber is used as a binder hardened by sulphur in the presence of special admixtures. Quartz sand and fly ash may be used as fillers and fine grained granites and basalt chipping as coarse aggregate. The resulting material has high acid and alkali resistance, toughness and adhesion to metal reinforcements, low water absorption and remarkable compression strength (80–90 MPa). A series of RubCon compositions are presented and industrial production technology for chemically resistant items and structures is worked out. The experimental samples of the material were successfully applied in real plant conditions at constant action of concentrated solutions of sulphuric acid and caustic potash.