Effect of polymers on concrete

Danish Hussain Thoker1and Dr P K Sherma2

1
M. Tech Scholar, SCE, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Panjab, India
2
Professor, SCE, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
Mail: danishthoker0139@gmail.com 2#Corresponding auther pushpendra.23437@lpu.co.in
I

Abstract: The present study “Effect of Polymers Properties of Concrete” was intended to
investigate the mechanical and flexural properties of polymer concrete. The study was explored
on the basis of trend analysis of the different studies. The results of the different studies were
examined on the basis of Effect of Polymers on Properties of Concrete. After surveying the critical
results of these studied, the investigator observed that result of the selected researchers is inclined
towards unique direction. Therefore, in the present study it was observed that the mixing of polymer in
the process of forming the polymer concrete enhances the compressive strength of concrete by
changing its property. Apart from this it has been revealed that polymers have improved
mechanical properties of concrete including increased compressive strength, flexural and
tensile strength as well as good performance in durability increase and reduction of corrosion
and permeability of concrete.

Key words: Polymer concrete, mechanical properties.

1.1: INTRODUCTION: The use of polymers in concrete is not new, rather it has a very long
history. With the passage of time the concrete construction has gained attention of people as
well as intellectual. Consequently, in the past few decades large number of studies has been
conducted on polymer concrete. Practically speaking, adding aqueous polymer emulsions or
re-dispersible polymer powders in the fresh concrete mix makes polymer modification of
concrete. The polymer blend is stabilised by surfactants, and each polymer has its own film
forming properties within the applicable temperature range and the physic-chemical conditions
during hardening and curing. The surfactants and the low film forming ability of most
emulsions are generally hindering the building of highly performing and durable
microstructures in the PCC.

Polymer saturated concrete has high resistance as well as excellent durability.

Historically speaking, polymer concrete (PC) was recognized in 1970 and it is usually used for
repairs, thin covers for floors and bridges as well as prefabricated components. Polymer
modified concrete (PMC) is often used in repair and coverage. The use of polymeric materials
has pros as well as cons. However, despite its usability it has gained wide range of applicability
in the contemporary world. Though, there are many applications for these materials in current
and future that effectively use their unique properties. Gaining maximum strength is the main
concern of merging polymers with the concrete. Keeping the applicability of the polymers
under consideration, it has been reported that compressive strength of polymer impregnated
concrete is normally three to four times more than the conventional concrete. It has excellent
durability in extremely low temperature especially in freezing and thawing and resistance to
acid attack. In connection to same, Manning and Hope (1971) have revealed that compressive
strength and modulus of elasticity of polymer concrete have increased through increasing the
amount of the polymer. In the contemporary world the usability of the polymers in the field of
concrete has emerged with wide range of scope, according the investigator selected the below
mentioned research problem:

1.2: STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM: In the present study an attempt has
been made by the investigator to study the research problem which reads as:

“Effect of Polymers on Properties of Concrete”

1.3: OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF THE TERMS AND VARIABLES: The

operational definitions of the terms used in the present study are:

A) Polymer Modification: Polymer Modification refers the process of adding aqueous

polymer emulsions or re-dispersible polymer powders in the fresh concrete so as to
enhance the strength of concrete. Polymers have long-chain structure, which helps in
developing long-range network structure of bonding. Subsequently, in the present
study polymer modification envisages the observation of superior compressive, tensile
and flexural strength gained with the help mixing polymers with concrete.
B) Properties of Concrete: In the present study properties of concrete refers the process of
change in the strength of the concrete which took place after the mixture of polymers
with the material of concrete. In the present study it simply refers the alteration in the
properties of concrete after mixing polymers.

1.4: OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: Present study consists of the following objectives:

1) To explore the strength and properties of polymer on concrete.

1.5: LITERATURE REVIEW:

Sivakumar. M.V.N (2010): The paper presents the effect of different polymers like acrylic
styrene and polymer latex on concrete. He concluded from his research that performance
and structural characteristics of polymer modified concrete is better than conventional
concrete both in fresh and hardened state, when used in optimum dosage of about 15%.
Polymer fills the voids, forms a continuous reinforcing network, hence resulted in tensile,
compressive, flexural strength of concrete.

Raman Bedi, Rakesh Chandra, S.P Singh (2013): The author studied several papers on
effects of polymers on concrete and found that polymers and hence mechanical properties
like compressive, tensile and flexural strength of concrete. And he also noticed that
polymer increases the durability of concrete.

Juntao Dang, Junzhao, Zhaohua Du (2017): The author tried to explore the effect of
superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on concrete, the result showed that pre-absorbed SAP can
increase the workability of mixture. He also found that SAP gradually increases
compressive strength, provides resistance to shrinkage, carbonation and chloride
penetration.

Magdy.M.M,Genidi, Hany.R.M.Mahmoud (2017): The author investigated the effect of

polymer on behaviour on RC beam subjected to fire under loading. He concluded from his
research that flexural an d shear strength of beam increases and number of cracks decreases
when not exposed to fire but beams made up of concrete containing polymers exposed to
fire, flexural and shear strength decreases.

Layth.A.Alasadi, Afrah A.Alkradi, etal (2018): The researcher tried to study the effect
of silica and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) on absorption and mechanical properties of
concrete containing waste aggregates. He found that using both silica and SBR gave extra
bond and strength and less voids in concrete. He also noticed that by using silica only 61%
increase in compressive strength occurred. But with polymer SBR compressive strength
reached 72% and flexural strength increased from 3.8 MPa for reference mix to 12.3 MPa
for silica polymer mixes.

Ana Baricevic, Martina Pezer, etal (2018): The study explores the possibility of using
recycled tire polymer fibre (RTPF) as a micro reinforcement in wet spread concrete mix.
He noticed that addition of RTPF improves resistance to scaling of concrete in frost action.
RTPF reduces capillary absorption and potentially can control microcracking, but cannot
influence on mechanical properties of spread concrete.

Zahra Bahranifard. Farshad Farshchi Tabrizi, Ali Rezi Vosoughi (2019): The
researcher tried to know the effect of styrene butyl acrylate co-polymer (SBA) latex on
concrete. From his results, he concluded that addition of SBA along with silicone-based
antifoam and superplasticizers (for reducing entrapped air and increase in workability)
improver mechanical properties significantly. He also concluded that using polymer latex
to cement ratio up to 3%, compressive and flexural strength increases 15.7% and 22.6%
respectively. Also using 5% latex content, 1% superplasticizer and 16% antifoam,
optimum tensile strength is obtained.

Tidarud Girawatt Nasomkul, Tamon Ueda, etal (2019): In this paper the researcher
tried to understand in depth compressive behaviour of concrete subjected to natural fibre
reinforced polymer (NFRP) like jute, hemp and cotton. He found that all NFRP showed
the nonlinear stress-strain relationship in tensile mode. The NFRP exhibits great
enhancement in compressive and ductility of concrete.

Jicai Yin, Jianhua Zhang, Wenqiang Wang (2019): The researcher investigated to study
the effect of resin on mechanical properties of concrete so that it can be used in precision
machine tool. He found that resin content had remarkably affected the mechanical
properties of concrete. He also noted that with the increase in fractal dimension within the
range of 2.4 to 2.6, the compressive strength of concrete is first increased and then
decreased.

Ali Sadr, Montizi, Reza Kohani, Khoshkbijari,etal (2015): The author studied several
papers on effects of polymers on concrete and found that polymers and hence mechanical
properties like compressive, tensile and flexural strength of concrete. And he also noticed
that polymer increases the durability of concrete.
1.6: CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY: Based on the critical review of the available
literature on the effects of polymer modification on concrete, below mentioned conclusions has
been enumerated: -

1. With the introduction of polymers on concrete, the mechanical properties such as

compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength increases

2. Durability, resistance to acid attack and chloride penetration, impermeability also

increases due to polymers in concrete

REFERENCES

1. Sivakumar. M.V.N (2010) “Effect of Polymer modification on mechanical and

structural properties of concrete – An experimental investigation” International
Journal Of Civil And Structural Engineering Volume 1, No 4, 2010
2. Raman Bedi, Rakesh Chandra, S.P Singh (2013) “Mechanical Properties of
Polymer Concrete” Hindawi Publishing CorporationJournal of Composites
Volume 2013, Article ID 948745, 12 pages
3. Juntao Dang, Junzhao, Zhaohua Du (2017) “ Effect of Superabsorbent Polymer on
the Properties of Concrete”
4. Magdy.M.M,Genidi, Hany.R.M.Mahmoud (2017) “ EFFECT OF ADDING POLYMERS
TO CONCRETE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF R.C. BEAMS EXPOSED TO FIRE” International
Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research
5. Layth.A.Alasadi, Afrah A.Alkradi, etal (2018 “effects of silica fume and polymers
on some mechanical properties of concrete containing waste aggregates” ”
International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research
6. Ana Baricevic, Martina Pezer, etal (2018): “Effect of polymer fibres recycled from
waste tires on properties of wet-sprayed concrete” Construction and Building
Materialjournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat
7. Zahra Bahranifard. Farshad Farshchi Tabrizi, Ali Rezi Vosoughi (2019 “An
investigation on the effect of styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer latex to improve the
properties of polymer modified concrete” ” Construction and Building
Materialjournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat
8. Tidarud Girawatt Nasomkul, Tamon Ueda, etal (2019): “Effect of natural fibre
reinforced polymers on confined compressive strength of concrete” ” Construction
and Building Materialjournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat
9. Jicai Yin, Jianhua Zhang, Wenqiang Wang (2019): “Effective resin content and its
effect on the overall performance of polymer concrete for precision machine tools” ”
Construction and Building Materialjournal homepage:
www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat
10. Ali Sadr, Montizi, Reza Kohani, Khoshkbijari,etal (2015): “Polymers in Concrete:
Applications and Specifications” europianovdkvdoouropean Online Journal of Natural
and Social Sciences 2015; European Online Journal of Nal and Social Sciences 2015;
www.european-sropean Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015;
www.european-science.com
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Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2015; www.european-
science.com
Vol.3, No.3 Special Issue on New Trends in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Studies
ISSN 1805-3602