Incorporation of natural rubber latex as concrete admixtures for improved mechanical properties

Abstract

The addition of admixtures into normal concrete always have favorable effect in terms of durability and strength aspects of concrete. Also present construction arena focuses on sustainable methods and development of sustainable construction materials. This work is based on the effect of addition of Natural Rubber Latex (NRL), obtained from nature by natural polymerization from Hevea Brasiliensis and are incorporated into concrete for improving the mechanical properties of conventional concrete, thereby encouraging a sustainable construction method. The NRL was used as a partial replacement for water in this study. A latex to water ratio of 4%, 5% and 6% was used in this study. Utilizing latex in its optimum dosage has shown positive results in terms of its strength and durability parameters. Characterization study using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was also carried out to investigate the microstructural properties and to compare the properties between latex modified and conventional concrete specimens. Thus performance of natural latex modified sample in terms of compression, flexure, split tensile and microstructural properties was investigated throughout the study. Being a renewable material natural latex is a sustainable.