Abstract
This paper deals with the experimental studies conducted on the effects of using sea sand on the properties of polymer concrete modified using epoxy resin. The physical properties including workability, mechanical properties, and durability properties were evaluated as a function of sea-sand substitution. The results obtained behave as strong evidence for the feasibility of using sea sand as fine aggregate to solve the problem associated with the exhaustion of natural aggregates when used in combination with epoxy polymer. A clear understanding of the behavior of polymer concrete with sea sand as aggregate was obtained through some preliminary investigations. The test results showed a significant improvement in the compressive and flexural strength due to the sea-sand substitution in polymer concrete. Resistance to the water intrusion was also improved for the concrete mixes due to the inclusion of epoxy resin. The quality and the integrity of the concrete were also improved, as evident from the SEM analysis and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and the results function as solid basis for the use of sea-sand polymer-modified concrete for practical applications. Results also show that 15% replacement of fine aggregate by sea sand in air-cured polymer concrete exhibited enhanced strength and durability properties; thus, the produced concrete can be an effective material for unreinforced concrete applications.
Highlights
Polymer concrete is in no way new to civil engineering, and several attractive properties were achieved due to its superior performance [1]
Recent years saw more attention paid to the use of sea sand as fine aggregate in concrete due to the problem of shortage of river sand [8]
[22].Generally, the substitution of sea sand as fine aggregate shows a negligible effect on the slump values of concrete substitution of sea sand as fine aggregate shows a negligible effect on the slump values of concrete
Summary
Polymer concrete is in no way new to civil engineering, and several attractive properties were achieved due to its superior performance [1]. Several polymer additives such as latex, natural rubbers, epoxy resins, and thermo-plastic polymers are added to normal concrete to produce chemically resistant, impermeable, and durable concrete [2]. Recent years saw more attention paid to the use of sea sand as fine aggregate in concrete due to the problem of shortage of river sand [8]. Recent scientific technologies are aimed to utilize sea sand as a partial or complete substitute for fine aggregate, and efforts are being done to implement the process for practical applications [9]. Several studies proposed to use sea-sand concrete for particular applications to enable
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