Title: Overview of Current Research on Polymer Concrete: Materials and Future Needs

Author(s): John A. Manson

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 69

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-20

Keywords: concrete durability; concrete technology; impregnating; plastics, polymers and resins; polymer concrete; polymer-portland cement-concrete; polymerization; research; reviews; strength.

DOI: 10.14359/6376

Date: 8/1/1981

Abstract:
As we have become more and more concerned with the con-servation of energy and materials, interest has grown in improv-ing the strength, toughness, ductility, and durability of port-land cement concrete or in finding replacements that exhibit a superior cost-property balance. Thus one approach has been to im-prove the properties of concrete itself; another-the subject of this paper-is to combine the two technologies of concrete and high polymers, using not only familiar kinds of concrete but also less familiar ones. It should be noted that combinations of siliceous materials with polymers require in many cases lower energy inputs per unit of performance than either component alone. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of current re-search and unsolved problems with the various classes of polymer-concrete materials. While a comprehensive review of the litera-ture is not within the scope of the paper, the general state-of-the- art is described, principal areas of research are illustrated with typical examples, and areas needing further research are suggested. Indeed, significant progress has been made recently in both fun-damental and applied research on all kinds of polymer/concrete systems. It is suggested that further progress to achieve sophisticated understanding, design, and materials selection will still require much work in combining the science, technology, and economics involved.