Title: Bonding Agent in Polyester Polymer Concrete

Author(s): C. Vipulanandan and N. Dharmarajan

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 104

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 89-106

Keywords: adhesion; aggregates; flexural strength; Polyester resins polymer concrete; resin concrete; glass fibers; silane

DOI: 10.14359/10012

Date: 10/1/1987

Abstract:
The influence of a silane coupling agent on the mechanical properties of polyester polymer concrete with and without glass fiber reinforcement has been investigated. The silane was incorporated into the polymer concrete systems either by pretreating the aggregates and fibers or by directly adding it into the resin (integral addition method). The flexural properties of polyester polymer and polymer concrete were studied in four-point bending (third point loading) at room temperature. The results indicate that the silane treated aggregate systems increase in flexural strength by more than 50 percent when compared to the untreated systems. The increase in strength is also dependent on the amount of polymer in the polymer concrete. At equivalent loading levels of silane, superior flexural properties were obtained with the pretreatment method than with the integral addition method. The improvement in strength due to the silane coupling agent is explained in terms of chemical interaction between the polymeric matrix and filler. Addition of glass fibers enhances the strength, stiffness and toughness of polyester polymer concrete, and silane treatment of glass fibers helps to further enhance these properties. Behavior models are proposed to predict the enhanced flexural strength of polyester polymer concrete due to pretreatment, integral addition and fiber reinforcement.