Polymer impregnated concrete (PIC) is known to exhibit better strength and durability characteristics than the other classes of polymer cement composites. In the work described herein the monomer was impregnated into cement mortar and polymerized by two methods - the conventional thermal method and using microwaves. The mechanical properties and durability characteristics of the samples and on exposure to chemical environments were then evaluated._x000D_ The above studies revealed that the strengths of PIC specimens were almost 2-3 times better than those of conventional cement mortars. The chemical resistance was also found to be superior even on prolonged exposure to the chemical media. This may be attributed to the protective layer formed by the polymer on the cement mortar, which prevents the external chemical media from interacting with the cement particles. The properties of the PIC specimens prepared by both methods have also been compared and discussed in this paper.

Durability Cement Mortar Composite Polymer Strength

Clifton J, Knab L, National institute of standards and technology interagency report 89-4086, Gaithersburg MD (1989)
Czarnecki L, Garbacz A, Kurzydlowski K, Proc. of VIII international congress on polymers in concrete, Belgium, 299 (1995)
Brum JE, Domaingue JE, The battle of reinforced concrete in concrete repairs, 3, Palladium Publications, London (1986)
Erlin D, Verbeck GJ, Corrosion of metal in concrete: Needed research, ACI spec. Publ., SP-46, 39 (1979)
Kopycinski, Bronislaw, Proc. of Colloq. Intern. Durabilite Betons, Rappt. Prelim. Prague, CAN 58:38714, AN 1963:38714, 331 (1961)
Gyorgy B, Erika C, Ferenc T, Proceedings of the 10th international congress on the chemistry of cement, Gothenburg, June 2-6, CODEN: 65IBAI, 8 (1997)
Nair Priya, Thachil ET, Paul A, J. of Advances in Cement Research, 19, 101 (2007)
Ohama Y, Cement and Concrete Composites, 20, 189 (1998)
Mangat PS, Limbachiya MK, Construction and Building Materials, 9, 81 (1995)
Sebok T, Stranel O, Cement and Concrete Research, 34, 1853 (2004)
Steinberg M, Kukachka LE, Colombo P, Kelsch JK, Manowitz B, Dikeou J, Backstrom J, Rubenstein, Concrete polymer materials, first tropical report, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Report No. BNL-50134 (T-509), 83 (1968)
Neville AM, Properties of concrete, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall (2008)
Standard test method for laboratory determination of pulse velocities and ultrasonic elastic constants of rock, ASTM D2845-08 (2002)
Testing method for compressive strength of hydraulic cements mortar mortar, KS L 5105 (2007)
Test methods for polymer modified mortars, KS F 2476 (2007)
Standard test method for measurement of rate of absorption of water by hydraulic cement concretes, ASTM C1585-04.
Ohama Y, Chandra S, Polymers in concrete, 4th chapter, Noyes Publications (1994)
Test method for resistance of concrete to rapid freezing and thawing, KS F 2456 (2007)
Auskern A, Horn W, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 54, 282 (1971)
Brydson JA, Plastic materials, 7th Edn., Butterworth Heinmann Publishers, Oxford (1999)
Mullick AK, Rajkumar C, Jain NK, 2nd Int. conf. on durability of concrete, Malhotra, V.M., Ed., Montreal SP-126-1, 577 (1991)
Ohama Y, Chandra S, Polymers in concrete, 5th chapter, Noyes Publications, USA (1994)