Polymer Concrete Composites Research Articles

Behavior of Glass Fabric Reinforced Polymer Concrete Composites under Flexural Loads

Behavior of Glass Fabric Reinforced Polymer Concrete Composites under Flexural Loads

Recent Development and Application of Concrete-Polymer Composites in Korea

This study examines and analyzes the R&D and field applications of concrete-polymer composites conducted in the past 5 years in Korea by reviewing related patents, new technologies and technical research articles. Among the materials, polymer cement concrete (mortar) was used the most for patent application followed by geopolymer concrete (rnortar) and polymer concrete (mortar). As for the uses, pavement overlay took the most for field application followed by repair and waterproof, and bricks were used the most for precast products followed by sewerage products and interior materials. The main subjects of the published research papers were repair of concrete pavement, manufacturing of polymer concrete using recycled wastes, and production of polymer cement concrete with improved performance. Most of the commercialized new technologies were related to the rehabilitation of concrete pavement using polymer concrete or polymer cement concrete and various precast products using polymer concrete. Based on the results of the examination and analysis, in respect of materials, the R&D activities in Korea focused on geopolymer concrete as a new item while few research studies were conducted on polymer impregnated concrete. Regarding field application, the mainstream was the R&D on overlay and repair, and the development of precast products. (A)

Sustainable Construction: Challenges, Contribution of Polymers, Research Arena

Sustainable development is one of the leading civilization ideas. This term means such a development that satisfies the present needs without a limitation of the possibility of satisfying the needs in the future. Sustainable development in construction is particularly important, as this branch of the industry is consuming enormous amounts of mass and energy. A new research area has been created by this idea. The new fields of investigation are involved with material, energetic, and environmental conditions, but also with such topics as protection against noise and the methods of the evaluation of the efficiency of waste materials storage. Merging the worlds of cement concrete and concrete-polymer composites opens ways to synergetic effects that support sustainable material development. Implementation of the idea of sustainable development in the construction industry will be a source of scientific and engineering inspiration for many years to come. 1. Sustainable development – a challenge for civilisation The notion of sustainable development aspires to the role of a leading civilisational idea. Sustainable development “implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [UN, 1987]. The term is the most frequently found expression in forecasts and similar studies. It follows from philosophical premises and – in Poland – it is a constitutional prerequisite: ”The Republic of Poland shall safeguard the independence and integrity of its territory and ensure the freedoms and rights of persons and citizens, security of citizens, safeguarding of Poland‟s national heritage, and ensure the protection of the natural environment pursuant to the principles of sustainable development.” Therefore, sustainable development constitutes a principle that is to be followed by the Republic of Poland, in turn safeguarding fundamental values. In the Environmental Protection Laws, the definition of sustainable development is expanded further: such socio-economic development, in which – in order to equalise the opportunities to access the environment by individual communities or their members – both of contemporary generations and those still to come – a process of the integration of

Recent Research on Polymer-Modified Cement Mortar in China

Polymer has been widely used in construction in China during the past few years and has become a necessary component of some building materials. The development in concrete-polymer composites (CPC) is going with the economical achievement and practical needs, which focuses on polymer-modified cement mortar (PCM). Therefore, this paper introduces the trends and advances in research on PCM during the past few years in China, especially cement hydration in the presence of polymer, the properties and application of PCM, waste utilization as well as trends of concrete-polymer composites.

Sustainable Concrete; Is Nanotechnology the Future of Concrete Polymer Composites?

Sustainable development as the leading civilization idea, and nanotechnology as the contemporary wave of technology significantly affecting the society, are brought together in this paper. A brief history of sustainability implementation from the start concept until European Construction Product Regulation is presented. The extended definitions of sustainable construction and sustainable material are analysed with adequate conclusions towards Concrete. The category of Exergy is implemented as a measure for “natural environmentally-friendly” meaning. The generalised concrete development curve is presented with discussion of Well Defined Concrete Performance. The statement that the sustainability is necessity for concrete and the nanotechnology is the chance for the future of concrete polymer composite is the final conclusion of the paper.

Effect of Introducing Recycled Polymer Aggregate on the Properties of C-PC Composites

The subject of this paper is the evaluation of possibility of using the plastic waste fillers as the coarse aggregate of two Concrete-Polymer Composites (C-PC): polymer-cement concrete (PCC) and polymer concrete (PC). The applied fillers were crushed high density polypropylene (HDPP) wastes remaining after grinding plastic elements used in mountings and thermal insulation systems. The substitution of natural mineral coarse aggregate (river gravel) with plastic material was done on the various levels (0 ÷ 40% in case of PCC and 0 ÷ 100% in case of PC). For all composites the density, flexural strength and compressive strength were determined and compared with those for reference composites containing only the river gravel. The results enabled to indicate the levels of possible substitution of the natural aggregate, the non-renewable resource, with waste material, so that the properties of C-PC remain at the satisfactory level.

Review on Application of Polymer Concrete in Singapore

Singapore is a small island country, but has won renown as uncorrupted government and high quality products. Independent testing and inspection played a very important role for this achievement[1]. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the sole public authority in Singapore and was set up as a statutory on 1 February 1960. Within 45 years, it built more than 700,000 flats housing approximately 86% of the population. Every year, around 40,000 new flats (about 400 blocks) are built up to meet the demands. In March 1992, HDB launched the 15-year main upgrading programme (MUP) to vying the finishes and facilities of old estates up to the standard of those in the new towns. The upgrading programme is a conscious effort by the government to provide a better living environment, strengthen existing community ties and enhance the value of our flats. The potential size of the upgrading program is approximately 370,000 units spread across 20 years, which works out to be 350 blocks per year. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the housing quality, Polymer concrete materials including polymer modified cement mortar, epoxy or PU floor screed and injection materials, and fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials are extensively used in the new and upgrading projects. In this paper, the various applications of polymer concrete composites in Singapore are described and discussed. The various categories of polymer concrete composites are extensively used in Singapore’s public and private projects. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the building quality, independent testing and inspection plays a very important role. Through implementing a quality control program to ensure high standards in product quality and performance requirements, Housing & Development Board (HDB), Singapore's public housing authority and statutory board under the Ministry of National Development, screens and provides a comprehensive selection of quality products needed for HDB construction projects through HDB's Materials List [2] with a set of product evaluation requirement. The development of the requirements and specifications for various polymer concrete composite products are also described and discussed

Report from 13<sup>th</sup> ICPIC and 7<sup>th</sup> ASPIC: New Trends on Concrete-Polymer Composites

The field of polymers in concrete is consolidated in the construction industry. The future of polymers in concrete is governed by the synergic interaction between these materials, in order to contribute significantly towards a more sustainable construction. Concrete-polymer composites (C-PC) have excellent mechanical and durability properties. Appropriate combination of polymers and classical construction materials provides opportunities for innovative applications and systems. This paper highlights the innovations and new approaches presented at the 13th International Congress on Polymers in Concrete in Madeira, Portugal, 2010 and at the 7th Asian Symposium on Polymers in Concrete in Istanbul, Turkey, 2012. The new trends presented are related with the micro and nanostructure, properties, test methods and applications of concrete-polymer composites.

Needed Research for Further Enhancing the Dielectric Properties of Polymer Concrete

During the past four decades, starting with the pioneering R&D work at Westinghouse in the 1970s, considerable work has been done, especially in the USA, on the dielectric properties and long-term performance of specialized polymer concrete composites for applications in the electric power industry. Polymer concrete is now well-established as a viable technical alternative to standard electrical porcelain. Its energy efficiency, its low cost, its universal processability at ambient temperature, and its design versatility have now spawned a wide variety of successful applications world-wide. Post insulators up to and including 138 kV, pin insulators, integrally cast instrument and potential transformers, various kinds and sizes of bushings, surge arresters, bus ducts, third-rail insulators in transportation, etc, are just some of the products operating successfully in the field to-day.The full potential of polymer concrete as a dielectric material has not yet been reached. With some thoughtful and functionally directed research on the properties and processing of polymer concrete, it is felt that significant advances can be made in the capabilities of dielectric polymer concrete.These advances can revolutionize the design and operation of electric power systems in the 21st century when the demands of the environment and the constraints of cost of new Ultra High Voltage power systems will be important factors governing the choice of materials. This paper gives a brief over-view of the state-of-the-art of polymer concrete dielectrics and discusses some of the needed research to meet the new challenges facing the electric power industry.

Influence of moisture content on the thermal and mechanical properties and curing behavior of polymeric matrix and polymer concrete composite

The effect of moisture on the thermal and mechanical properties and curing process of unsaturated polyester resin and polymer concrete was investigated. The resin curing kinetics were studied using DSC and the results were analyzed using Borchardt and Daniels’ model. The results showed an increase of reaction order and activation energy, and a decrease in the heat of reaction with increasing initial moisture content. The 70% conversion time increased from 17.5 to 64min when initial moisture content increased from 0% to 5%. The mechanical properties of both unsaturated polyester resin and polymer concrete deteriorated dramatically with increasing moisture content. The resin Shor D hardness decreased from 85 to 67MPa, the flexural strength from 144 to 30MPa, the modulus of elasticity from 2.99 to 1.05GPa, and the tensile strength from 58.6 to 30MPa when initial moisture content increased from 0% to 5%. The polymer concrete’s flexural strength decreased from 25.8 to 0.68MPa and compressive strength from 190 to 85MPa when the initial moisture added to the aggregate content increased from 0% to 5%. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin increased from 80×10−6 to 123×10−6°C−1 and of the polymer concrete from 13×10−6 to 19.8×10−6°C−1 when the initial moisture content increased from 0% to 5%.

Polypropylene Fibers as Reinforcements of Polyester-Based Composites

Effects of gamma radiation and the polypropylene fibers on compressive properties of polymer concrete composites (PC) were studied. The PCs had a composition of 30 wt% of unsaturated polyester resin and 70 wt% of marble particles which have three different sizes (small, medium, and large). The PCs were submitted to 200, 250, and 300 kGy of radiation doses. The results show that the compressive properties depend on the combination of the polypropylene fiber concentration and the applied radiation dose. The compressive strength value is highest when using medium particle size, 0.1 vol% of polypropylene fibers and 250 kGy of dose; moreover, the compressive modulus decreases when increasing the particle size.

Polymer concrete with recycled PET: The influence of the addition of industrial waste on flammability

The civil construction sector has found use for a range of industrial waste products in the form of substitutes that are as effective as standard construction materials but which have the bonus of providing an ecologically sound alternative for materials that would otherwise become an environmental concern. The use of waste materials in cement and polymer composites is a prime example of this practice. While composites with polymer matrices may display excellent mechanical properties, they must also offer superior flammability resistance. The main aim of this study is to develop innovative polymer concrete composites produced with industrial alumina waste, a by-product of the steel industry. The composites used unsaturated ortoftalic polyester as binder, river sand as aggregate and fly ash as filler. Different compositions of flame retardants were tested, one with polishing alumina (residue) and one with commercial grade alumina, and these were used in concentrations of 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% by weight of resin. The properties assessed were mechanical strength, fire propagation and SEM/EDS image analysis and the results underwent statistical analysis to check for their significance. The compositions with the addition of 60% flame retardant waste showed a reduction of 85% in flame propagation times when compared with the samples without the addition of fire retardants and this was accompanied by increased mechanical resistance. No significant difference was found for the two types of flame retardant in terms of flame propagation time.

Resilience and Trends of Concrete-Polymer Composites in Japan

On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 struck Sanriku Coast, Japan. The ensuing tsunami swept across many cities and villages along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku district, causing tremendous human and structural damage. These disasters gave a good chance to review the relationship between infrastructures and sustainability in Japan from the viewpoints of concrete structures and concrete-polymer composites. The article introduces essential defects of cement concrete structures and discusses different state-of-the-art concrete-polymer composites and the properties of ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete.

Contribution of Concrete-Polymer Composites to Sustainable Construction and Conservation Procedures

Contribution of Concrete-Polymer Composites to Sustainable Construction and Conservation Procedures

Concrete-Polymer Composites – The Past, Present and Future

The present paper deals with the principles of process technology for concrete-polymer composites, the research and development history of the concrete-polymer composites, the recent trends in the research and development of the concrete-polymer composites and the present status of major standardization work for the concrete-polymer composites, on the basis of comprehensive literature survey. The future trends in the research and development of the concrete-polymer composites are predicted, and sustainable concrete-polymer composites are proposed for the 21st century.

Advanced Seismic Countermeasures for Concrete Bridges by Using Polymer in Japan

Modern infrastructures such as viaducts, bullet train (Shinkansen) elevated tracks, and subway facilities in addition to houses and buildings were greatly damaged at the Hyogo-Ken Nanbu Earthquake that hit heavily populated urban cities in 1995. As a learning lesson from this earthquake, seismic countermeasures for civil infrastructures have been rapidly reviewed and implemented. In this study, damage of bridge structures due to this strong earthquake was reported and the current effective seismic retrofit of concrete columns and bridge-falling prevention systems by use of concrete polymer composites in Japan were introduced. Two main seismic countermeasure methods were introduced and discussed: Steel plate and fiber jacketing methods for existing reinforced concrete piers/columns, and unseating devices for bridge-falling prevention. Both these countermeasures use epoxy resin as essential component.

Beton-Polymer Komposite (C-PC) – Veränderung durch Kontinuität (CpC) / Concrete-Polymer Composites (C-PC) – Change per Continuation (CpC)

Article Beton-Polymer Komposite (C-PC) – Veränderung durch Kontinuität (CpC) / Concrete-Polymer Composites (C-PC) – Change per Continuation (CpC) was published on October 1, 2010 in the journal Restoration of Buildings and Monuments (volume 16, issue 4-5).

Oberflächentechnologie: was bedeutet das für Polymer-Beton Komposite? / Surfology: what does it mean for Polymer Concrete Composites?

Article Oberflächentechnologie: was bedeutet das für Polymer-Beton Komposite? / Surfology: what does it mean for Polymer Concrete Composites? was published on October 1, 2010 in the journal Restoration of Buildings and Monuments (volume 16, issue 4-5).

경량 폴리머 콘크리트 복합체의 내열성능에 관한 연구

In recent years, the light-weight aggregate has widely been used to reduce the weight of construction structures, and to achieve the thermal insulation of building structures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the heat resistance of polymer concrete composites with light-weight aggregate made by binders as resin and cement with polymer dispersion. The light-weight polymer concrete composites are prepared with various conditions such as binder content, filler content, void-filling ratio, light-weight aggregate content and polymer-cement ratio, and tested for heat resistant test, and measured the weight reducing ratio, strengths and exhaustion content of gas such as CO, NO and <TEX>$SO_2$</TEX>. From the test results, the weight reducing ratio of light weight polymer concrete using UP binder after heat resistance test increase with an increase in the UP content irrespective of the filler content. The weight reducing ratio of polymer cement concrete is considerably smaller than that of UP concrete. In general, the strengths after heat resistance of polymer concrete composites are reduced about 40 to 65% compared with those before test. The exhausted quantity of CO, NO and <TEX>$SO_2$</TEX> gases in polymer concrete composites is less than EPS(Expanded poly styrene). From the this study, it is confirmed that the many types gases discharge according to binder type of polymer concrete composites, its amount is controlled by selection of the binder type and mix proportions.

The Effect of Temperature Change on Flexural Strength of Polymer Concrete Composites with Polyester Resin During Hardening at Furnace Atmosphere

Article The Effect of Temperature Change on Flexural Strength of Polymer Concrete Composites with Polyester Resin During Hardening at Furnace Atmosphere was published on September 1, 2007 in the journal Science and Engineering of Composite Materials (volume 14, issue 3).