WHAT IS POLYMER CONCRETE - TYPES, APPLICATIONS AND ADVANTAGES

Polymer Concrete

Polymer concrete is a type of concrete that uses polymer to replace lime-type cement as binder.It is a conventional concrete made with Ordinary Portland cement wet cured, and impregnated with a liquid/gaseous monomer (Methyl methacrylate) and polymerized by gamma radiation or chemically initiated means i.e. by using thermal catalytic method (adding 3% by weight Benzoyl peroxide) to the monomer as a catalyst.The impregnation is helped by drying the concrete at an extreme temperature by evacuations and absorbing the monomer under limited pressure.

Polymer concrete have been overseen by Committee 548 of the American Concrete Institute since 1971.It is not like traditional concrete , although it uses some of the same type of materials.It is also used for construction projects in the same manner, but the polymer compounds give the concrete several characteristics that tends to make it safer or more durable than regular concrete.

Types of Polymer Concrete

1. Polymer Concrete (PC).
2. Polymer Cement Concrete (PCC).
3. Polymer Impregnated Concrete (PIC).

Properties of Polymer Concrete

• It has good resistance against corrosion.
• The binder is more expansive than cement.
• Low permeability to water and aggressive solution.
• It is lighter in weight compared to traditional concrete.
• It has long term durability with respect to freeze and thaw cycles.
• It has good adhesion to most surfaces, including to reinforcements.

Advantages of Polymer Concrete

• It has high tensile strength.
• It has high impact resistance.
• It has high compressive strength.
• It has more resistance to chemical attacks.

Applications of Polymer Concrete

• Road.
• Kerbstones.
• Marine works.
• Irrigation works.
• Prestressed concrete.
• Nuclear power plants.
• Food processing buildings.
• Prefabricated structural elements.
• Sewage works and desalination plants.
• Waterproofing of structures and numerous indistrial applications.