Title: Durability of Concrete Containing Hollow Plastic Microspheres

Author(s): Celik Ozyildirim and Michael M. Sprinkel

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 79

Issue: 4

Appears on pages(s): 307-312

Keywords: admixtures; air-entrainment; concretes; fly ash, freeze-thaw durability; plastics, polymers and resins; water-reducing agents.

DOI: 10.14359/10907

Date: 7/1/1982

Abstract:
The potential of hollow plastic microspheres (HPMs) to provide resistance for non-air-entrained portland cement concrete to damage from cycles of freezing and thawing was investigated. A mixture with an air-en training agent (vinsol resin) was used as the control for comparison with three experimental mixtures - one with HPMs, one with high-range water reducers (HR WRs) and HPMs, and one with fly ash and HPMs. Mixtures with only HPMs in the amount of 1.5 percent or more by cement weight exhibited satisfactory resistance to damage from cycles of freezing and. thawing. Those with HR WRs and HPMs exhibited low durability factors and failed the acceptance criterion that requires a durability factor of 60 or more. Concretes with fly ash and HPMs displayed durability factors comparable to those mixtures with HPMs only; however, weight losses of the former were higher than those of the latter. Examinations with an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope revealed numerous well-distributed HPM voids in the mixtures with only HPMs, but few in the mixtures with HPMs and HR WRS.