DURABILITY OF NEW POLYMER MORTAR USING WASTE EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE SOLUTION

Abstract

New polymer mortar using waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) solution-based binders has been developed as an effective recycling method of EPS. The polymer mortar has almost the same properties as conventional polyester mortar or polymethyl methacrylate mortar in working life and mechanical properties such as flexural and compressive strengths, and elastic modulus. In the present study, the durability of a polymer mortar using an EPS solution based-binder is investigated. A styrene solution of EPS is prepared by dissolving EPS in styrene at an EPS concentration of 40%. The binder for the polymer mortar is made by mixing the EPS solution with a crosslinking agent, a coupling agent, a promoter and an initiator. The polymer mortar using the EPS solution-based binder is prepared with the selected mix proportion of the binder: filler (ground calcium carbonate): silica sand=l8.0: 16.4:65.6 (by mass), and tested for temperature dependence of compressive strength, water resistance, hot water (60, 80 and 100°C) resistance and chemical resistance. As a result, the compressive strength of the polymer mortar is linearly decreased with raising test temperature within the test temperature range of 0 to 100°C. The polymer mortar has excellent water resistance, hot water resistance and chemical resistance excepting organic solvent.