Compressive strength of radiation-induced polymer impregnated autoclaved lime-rich clay

Abstract

Factors affecting the radiation-induced polymer impregnation of autoclaved lime-rich clay specimens have been investigated. The monomer used is acrylic acid and it was found that the amount of monomer absorbed by the autoclaved specimens increases with increase of acrylic acid concentration and with impregnation time. The degree of polymer incorporation at a fixed γ-irradiation dose of 20 kGy increased with impregnation time of monomer up to 5 hr and also with monomer concentration. An improvement in the compressive strength of the polymer-impregnated autoclaved specimens was observed, and was found to depend mainly on the degree of polymer incorporation. The compressive strength of the autoclaved impregnated specimens was twice the value of the unimpregnated at a degree of polymer incorporation of 12%. The effect of γ-irradiation dose on the degree of polymer incorporation and on the compressive strength of the specimens was also investigated. Infrared and scanning electron microscopic studies of the polymer impregnated specimens were carried out.