Polymer Impregnated Concrete | Application | Properties

Polymer Impregnated Concrete|Application | Properties

 

Partial insertion may be sufficient in cases where surface resistance against chemical and mechanical attacks is a major requirement, along with an increase in energy.

Even with only partial insertion, a significant increase in the strength of the original concrete was observed.

Polymer Impregnated Concrete

The dried samples can be initially filled with partially filled concrete by soaking them in a liquid monomer, such as methyl methacrylate, and then placing them under hot water at 70 ° C to prevent or reduce evaporation loss.

However, polymerization can be done using a thermal catalytic method in which three percent of the weight of benzoyl peroxide is added to the monomer as a catalyst.

The depth of monomer penetration appears to depend on:

(a) the porous structure of hardened and dried concrete.

(b) the soaking period, and

(c) the viscosity of the monomer.

Polymer impregnated concrete surface treatment (surface coated concrete, SC) is a potential application in improving the durability of concrete bridge decks.

However, degrading the bridge deck is a serious problem everywhere, especially abrasive wear, freeze-thaw deterioration, spalling, and reinforcement corrosion.

Optimal penetration is achieved by ponding the monomer on the concrete surface. Proper care must be taken to prevent the monomer evaporation in the pits on the concrete surface.

A slab of 5 CMS thickness, soaked for 25 hours by MMA, produced a polymer surface coating depth of 2.5 CMS.

Also Read: Micro cracking of the concrete

Significant increases in tensile and compressive strengths, modulus of elasticity, and resistance to acid attack have been achieved.

However, the application of monomer for field application, as in bridge decks, causes more problems than a laboratory application.

Also, watch this for a better understanding:

Surface treatment in the field can be performed as follows.

(a) The surface is dried with an electric heating blanket for several days.

(b) Remove the heating coating and cover the slab with a lightweight total of 0.64 m oven per 100 sq.m.

(c) Initially apply a monomer system of 2,000 to 3,000 ml per square meter.

(d) Cover the surface with polyethylene to prevent evaporation.

(e) Shade the surface to prevent premature polymerization, which reduces the penetration of the concrete.

(f) Add additional monomer periodically to keep it moist for at least 8 hours.

(g) Apply heat to polymerize the monomer. A heating blanket, steam, or hot water can be used for this purpose.

Some promising monomer systems for this purpose are as follow:

(a) Methyl methacrylate (MMA), 1% Benzoyl peroxide (BP), 10% Trimethylolpropane methacrylate (TMPTMA).

(b) Is dodecyl methacrylate (IDMA), 1% BP, 10% TMPTMA.

(c) Isobutyl methacrylate (IBMA),10% TMPTMA, 1% BP.

BP acts as a catalyst and TMPTMA is a cross-linking agent which helps in the polymerization at the low temperature of 52%C.

Properties of Polymer Impregnated Concrete

Since Polymer impregnated concrete (PIC) is one of the most important categories of polymer concrete, the properties of PIC are discussed below.

Application of Polymer Impregnated Concrete

Given the numerous beneficial properties of PIC, it is useful in large quantities

The number of applications, some of which are listed and discussed below:

(a) Predefined structural elements.

(b) Pressure Concrete.

(c) Marine Functions.

(d) Dehydration plants.

(e) Nuclear power plants.

(f) Sewer works — pipe and disposal work.

(g) Ferrocement products.

(h) For waterproofing of structures.

(i) Industrial Applications.

 

Also read: Gap graded concrete

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