Abstract
Researches into new and innovative uses of waste plastic materials are continuously advancing. These research efforts try to match society’s need for safe and economic disposal of waste materials. The use of recycled plastic aggregates saves natural resources and dumping spaces, and helps to maintain a clean environment. The present articles deals with the resistance to chemical attack of polymer-mortars, which are often used as low-cost promising materials for preventing or repairing various reinforced concrete structures. To gain more knowledge on the efficiency of polymer-mortar composites, four mortar mixtures: one specimen with Portland cement and three mixtures with 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt% of the substitution of cement by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were exposed to the influence of aggressive environment (0.5%, 1% and 1.5% HCl acids, 10% NH4Cl, 5% H2SO4 acid and 10% (NH4)2SO4 solutions). The measurements of several properties were carried out, the results were analyzed and the combination of X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and the composites were also observed by SEM led to the positive identification of the deterioration products’ formation. From this study, it was found that the addition of PET to the modified mortars, means reducing the penetration of aggressive agents. So, the PET-modified mortars exposed to aggressive environments showed better resistance to chemical attack. The new composites appear to offer an attractive low-cost material with consistent properties. The present study highlights the capabilities of the different methods for the analysis of composites and opened new way for the recycling of PET in polymer-mortars.
Highlights
Degradation of concrete, as well as the related protection and ensuring of concrete structures against aggressive impacts by chemical agents, regardless of whether this concerns liquid, gas, or even solid phase under certain conditions, represents a complex problem of utmost importance for the economy in general, and especially for building construction and the construction industry [1]
The objective of the research reported here was to evaluate the chemical resistance of polymer-mortar composites containing a waste polyethylene terephtalate polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as a substitute of the cement used in the mix, under hydrochloric acid, ammonium-chloride, ammonium-sulfate and sulfuric acid solutions exposure
2) The results of specific indicators for ammonium chloride, ammonium-sulfate and acid attacks showed that an increase in the PET content led to better resistance of the composite
Summary
Degradation of concrete, as well as the related protection and ensuring of concrete structures against aggressive impacts by chemical agents, regardless of whether this concerns liquid, gas, or even solid phase under certain conditions, represents a complex problem of utmost importance for the economy in general, and especially for building construction and the construction industry [1]. In the previous work [21,22], the author studied the effects of PET polymer on the mortar properties, to decrease the chloride ion penetration depth and apparent chloride ion diffusion coefficient of polymer-mortar composites This may be explained due to the reduced volume of large-sized pores and the improved resistance to the absorption of the test solutions with an increase in polymer-cement ratio [22]. The objective of the research reported here was to evaluate the chemical resistance of polymer-mortar composites containing a waste polyethylene terephtalate PET, as a substitute of the cement used in the mix, under hydrochloric acid, ammonium-chloride, ammonium-sulfate and sulfuric acid solutions exposure. In this paper the durability of PETmortar composites exposed to aggressive solutions has been investigated If successful, such an application of waste PET, as substitute of cement, will be a major step towards reducing the solid waste disposal problem and reliance on natural resources, thereby reducing environmental pollution and energy consumption. The immediate consequence is the anticipated necessity of maintenance and repairs of the concrete structures, which must have specific characteristics, mainly mechanical and chemical, based on the material of the base or its substratum
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