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POLYMER MODIFIED
CONCRETE
a) Polymer Impregnated Concrete
b) Polymer Portland Cement Concrete
INTRODUCTION
It can be divided to 2 types that is:
a) Polymer impregnated concrete
- produced by impregnation of precast
hardened Portland cement concrete with a
monomer that is subsequently converted to
solid polymer.
b) Polymer cement concrete
- part of the cement binder of the concrete
mix is replaced by polymer (often in latex
form).
Polymer Impregnated Concrete (PIC)
Made by impregnation of precast hardened
Portland cement concrete with low viscosity
monomers (in either liquid or gaseous form)
that are converted to solid polymer under the
influence of physical agents (ultraviolet
radiation or heat) or chemical agents
(catalysts).
Normal cured concrete has considerable
capillary porosity in cement paste.
If the water present in the capillaries could be
removed and replaced by a solid material, this
would greatly improve the strength and
durability of the concrete, by eliminating much
of this void space.
This is the basis of polymer impregnated
concrete.

The problem of incorporating a solid into the
pore system is solved using a liquid monomer
to impregnate the concrete and subsequently
polymerizing the monomer to form the solid
monomer in situ within the pores.
Any types concrete regardless of the type of
cement, admixtures or aggregates used can be
successfully impregnated.
More porous concrete will require more
monomer and the strength of PIC is still
dependent on the final porosity of the material.
The Making of PIC
The amount of monomer needed for complete
impregnation depends on the porosity of the
concrete which is determined by w/c ratio, the
amount of curing, aggregates porosity &
others.
The desirable properties of a monomer include
low velocity, relatively high boiling point, low
toxicity, ease of polymerization, low cost, and
availability.
There are 3 suitable common monomers that is:
a) Methyl methacrylate (MMA)
b) Monomer of plexiglass
c) Styrene
Polyesters are too viscous to be successfully
used alone, but when blended with styrene,
their viscosities can be reduced sufficiently to
be used for partial impregnation of concrete.

Impregnation depth is limited by the
followings:
i) the porosity of the concrete
ii)the viscosity and volatility of the monomer
and hardener
iii)the set up time of the polymer
iv)the pressure applied
PIC strength is dependent on the type and
amount of polymer used and the degree of
polymerization achieved.

Production of PIC requires the following
sequence of operations once the concrete has
been cast and cured :
a) Dry the concrete
b) Impregnate the concrete with monomer
c) Polymerize the monomer

Advantage of PIC
Remarkable improvement in tensile,
compressive and impact strength.
Polymer impregnation strengthen the cement
paste and improves paste-aggregate bond.
Creep of PIC is very small than plain concrete
No drying shrinkage
Enhanced durability and reduced permeability
to water and aqueous salt solutions such as
sulphates and chlorides.
Applications
Concrete sewer pipes, precast segments for
tunnel linings, underground support systems
for mining operations, railroad ties and precast
pilings for wharves and jetties.
Applied for marine structures, wall panels,
prefabricated, structural floors, storage tanks
for seawater, desalination plants and distilled
water plants, and high performance structure.

Disadvantages
The PIC are expensive.
The fabrication process of PIC is complicated.
Polymer Cement Concrete
Polymer Cement Concrete
Made by modifying concrete or mortar with
polymer additives (10 -15% by weight of the
cement binder is replaced by polymer)
Among the polymer additives that can be used:
a) Latexes
b) Powdered emulsions
c) Water soluble polymers
d) Liquid resins
e) Monomers

Advantages
Improve workability and reduce bleeding
Moist curing period is shorter compared to
normal concrete
It has improved bond both to old concrete and
to reinforcing steel.
Able to resist the entry of water and
aggressive solutions
Has excellent freeze-thaw, abrasion and impact
resistance



The process technology used is very similar to
that of conventional concrete.
In can be cast-in-place in field applications
unlike PIC that need to be prepared as precast
Modification of concrete with a polymer latex
(colloidal dispersion of polymer particles in
water) results in greatly improved properties,
at a cost.
PCC = Cement + Polymer + Aggregates +
Water
Compressive strength of this concrete is often
higher than unmodified concrete under dry
curing condition because the strength develop
beyond 28 days.
Drying shrinkage and creep of this concrete is
lower than unmodified concrete.
Increased durability compared to plain
concrete.
The Making of PCC
Latex Modified Concrete is one of the most
common type of PMC because latex is
relatively simple to incorporate in mortar.
Integration of latex improves the ductility,
durability, adhesive properties, resistance to
chloride-ion ingress, shear bond and tensile
and flexural strength of concrete and mortar.
The sand content used in this concrete are
higher (about 45%) than those used in ordinary
concretes (about 40%).

Application
Also used extensively for patching, for floor
leveling, as a tile adhesive and to obtain skid
resistant surfaces.
Due to good adhesive properties, it is used for
laying bricks in prefabricated panels and in
stone and ceramic tiles.
Major applications also in floors (surfacing,
topping) and road surfacing
Latexes based on elastomers and epoxies are
widely used for thin overlays on bridge decks
and parking decks to protect reinforcing steel
for this purpose.
Before and After Overlay
Polymer Cement
Concrete Overlays
Used For Bridge
Deck Overlay
Used For Patching