Polymer Concretes: a Description and Methods for Modification and Improvement

Portland cement concrete (PCC) has been successful in many applications. However, since the 1960s technological investigations concerning modifications of concrete by polymeric materials have been conducted. Attention has been focused on concretes in which the continuous phase is some kind of polymeric resin and the discrete phase is some type of mineral aggregate. Such composite materials are known as Polymer concrete (PCt) and boast several advantages such as higher strength and a shorter curing process. In spite of these advantages, there are deficiencies that could be addressed by fiber incorporation into PCts, however this kind of approach is not typical. Here we acquaint readers with the nature of polymer concretes as these materials have not yet gained wide recognition. We describe recent developments regarding the influence of fiber reinforcements on PCts. The curing process is a critical concern in dealing with polymer concretes as it is with Portland cement concrete. Studies on the effects of gamma ionizing radiation on the curing process and on final properties of PCts are ongoing. Developments in this area are also described here. In particular, the effects of gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties are discussed. Notably, improvements of the Young’s modulus E described here have wider implications and may be indicative of improvements or modifications to other properties not directly tested. Specifically, the modifications to the Young’s modulus can be a defining measure of whether one will obtain a ductile or more brittle concrete.