The creep of unsaturated polyester/styrene polymer concrete (PC) under flexural loads was investigated using two PC systems with different resin contents, as well as the unfilled resin. Measurements were taken at temperatures, ranging from -5 to 60 C, time periods up to 160 hours, and stress levels from 4 to 12 MN/m², which represent stress-to-strength ratios of 0.3 to 0.7. The data obtained over these ranges of temperature, stress, and resin content were successfully superposed on a single master curve of creep compliance versus time. On the basis of these results, the authors propose a single expression that describes the creep compliance of the PC system as a product of separable functions of temperature, stress, resin content, and time

The corrosion of reinforcing steel embedded in concrete causes cracks and delamination in the concrete. The application of impressed current cathodic protection utilizing electrically conductive polymer concrete to distribute the current across concrete bridge deck surfaces is gradually becoming a standard practice in the highway industry. To protect the bridge substructures, a sprayable electrically conductive polymer concrete coating is being developed. This thin coating has a very low resistivity and can distribute the cathodic protection current across the concrete surfaces that are to be protected.

New Zealand has a predominantly agricultural-based economy and, thus a heavy investment in processing buildings such as export abattoirs and dairy factories. Component failures in these types of plants may have a serious effect on production and profitability. During the past 10 years, the Building Research Association of New Zealand has carried out an extensive research program investigating properties in the laboratory and in use on flooring materials for abattoirs. During the course of these investigations, it became clear that the formulation of widely used commercial polymer concrete toppings could be improved. In particular, these investigations sought a reduction of the resin content below the common figure of approximately 20 percent by weight and alternative aggregate sources to the limited supply of light-colored quartz and quartzite sands. However, it was important to preserve the application of new alternative mixes by trowelling, the traditional method. By starting from the aggregate grading curves of Weymouth and BS 882 and by using gap-grading, it was possible to lower the resin content to percent or less and still retain trowellability while using aggregates from traditional sources. Alternative sources of aggregates, such as sandstone (greywacke) and basalt, that could be used to produce the light-colored floors considered imperative for hygiene by the industry were found. The experimental polymer concrete floor toppings were tested for the necessary mechanical properties (compressive strength, abrasion, and impact resistance) for abattoir use.

Polymer concretes using various polymeric binders are widely used as building materials, but it is generally considered that their thermal resistance and fire resistance are limited because of the thermally unstable and combustible polymeric binders used. This paper deals with the incombustibility of polyester and polymethyl methacrylate concretes made with wet aggregates by applying strength improvement techniques, including the addition of moisture absorptive additives, a silane-coupling agent, and steel fibers. The polyester and polymethyl methacrylate concretes are prepared with wet aggregates, moisture absorptive additives, a silane-coupling agent, and steel fibers. First, the concretes are tested for compressive strength to examine the effects of the applied strength improvement techniques. Then they are tested for incombustibility by the surface burning test specified in JIS A 1321 (Testing Method for Incombustibility of Internal Finish Material and Procedure of Buildings). It is concluded from the test results that the use of wet aggregates causes great improvement in the incombustibility of polyester concrete, but polymethyl methacrylate concrete with wet aggregates does not provide a good incombustibility because of the thermal decomposition of its binder at a relatively low temperature.

Conventional portland cement concrete and concretes with latex and epoxy additives were prepared and tested for their microstructure characteristics using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chloride-ion penetration profiles were also studied on 10-cm concrete cubes that were immersed in 15 percent NaCl solution for 21 days. Following the 21-day soaking period and a subsequent 21-day air-drying period, concrete powder samples were removed by drilling at depth intervals of 0 to 12, 12 to 25, 25 to 38, and 38 to 50 mm and tested for acid-soluble chloride-ion content using a potentiometric titration procedure. The results of these investigations and typical micrographs are presented.