Effect of Recycled Acrylic-Based Polymers on Bond Stress-Slip Behavior in Reinforced Concrete Structures

Abstract

AbstractLimited studies investigated the effect of recycled polymers obtained from the paint industry on concrete bond stress-slip with embedded steel bars, including whether such behavior would be similar to that imparted by virgin polymeric latexes. Around 50 concrete mixtures containing different vinyl acrylic-based polymer concentrations are tested by direct bond and beam-end methods. Test results have shown that the concrete-bar interfacial bond stresses occurring in the elastic region substantially improved with recycled and virgin polymers. At a similar polymer-to-cement ratio, concrete incorporating recycled polymers exhibited improved bond properties than mixtures prepared with virgin ones. This was indirectly related to the pigment and extender powders in the waste latex paints, thus reducing porosity and improving denseness of cement paste that strengthen the transition zone adjacent to reinforcing bars. The effect of reducing the water-to-cement ratio while adding superplasticizer to compensat...