High performance concrete improvement by styrene-butadiene rubber addition

Abstract EN

In this paper, the properties of high performance concretes modified by polymer were studied.

Liquid synthetic styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was added (5%, 10% and 15%) by weight of cement to high performance concrete (HPC) to elucidate the effect of the polymer additive to their properties.

The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, porosity, dry density and total water absorption were measured.

Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat of HPC is also measured.

In addition, SEM micrographs are compared reference and polymer modified HPC.

The results show that there is an improvement in the workability for HPC after the addition of the polymer.

Furthermore, the density of the set concrete was increased and both the porosity, total water absorption was decreased.

Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat show improvement after polymer addition, which indicate better endurance.

The SBR modified HPC, exhibits a significant improvement in splitting tensile strength and flexural strength, although it was at the expense of the compressive strength to some extent.

The HPC has shown balanced microstructure before and after the addition of polymer, although they noticed improved on the ductile properties.