Polymer concrete

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Polymer Concrete

Polymer concrete is part of group of concretes that use polymers to supplement or replace cement as a binder. The types include polymer-impregnated concrete, polymer concrete, and polymer-portland-cement concrete. Polymers in concrete have been overseen by ACI Committee 548 since 1971.

Composition

Polymer concrete is composed of aggregates that include silica, quartz, granite, limestone, and other high quality material. The aggregate must be of good quality, free of dust and other debris, and dry. Failure of these criteria can reduce the bond strength between the polymer binder and the aggregate.

Advantages

Advantages of polymer concrete include:

• Rapid curing at ambient temperatures
• High tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths
• Good adhesion to most surfaces
• Good long-term durability with respect to freeze and thaw cycles
• Low permeability ot water and aggressive solutions
• Good chemical resistance
• Lightweight
• May be used in regular wood and steel formwork
• May be vibrated to fill voids in forms
• Allows use of regular form-release agents

Polymer concrete may be used for new construction or repairing of old concrete. The adhesion properties of polymer concrete allow patching for both polymer and cementious concretes. The low permeability of polymer concrete allows it to be used in swimming pools, sewer pipes, drainage channels, and other structures that contain liquids.

Disadvantages

Some safety issues arise out of the use of polymer concrete. The monomers can be volatile, combustible, and toxic. Initiators, which are used as catalysts, are combustible and harmful to human skin. The promoters and accelerators are also dangerous.

Polymer concretes also cost significantly more than conventional concrete.