Polymers and Polymer Composites

MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF CEMENT COMPOSITES OF THERMOPLASTICS

February 1, 2010 By: Nair P S; Thachil E T Research article

Title: MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF CEMENT COMPOSITES OF THERMOPLASTICS
Page Range: p.75-83
Author(s): Nair P S; Thachil E T
File size: 367K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 18
Issue No: No.2

Abstract
An attempt was made to explain the morphology and nature of interactions between the cement particles and thermoplastics in polymer-cement composites. All the thermoplastics (PVAl, polyethylene glycol, PVAc, acrylic polymer, acrylic-styrene polymer) were added to the cement paste either as water solutions or emulsions with calcium chloride as an accelerator for hydration of the cement particles. Thermal analysis, soxhlet extraction and SEM were some of the techniques employed to investigate the microstructure. The analysis revealed that the thermoplastics formed a film around the cement particles, thereby preventing the leaching of the water-soluble components which were present in the cement matrix. As the polymers are added to the cement before cement hydration some of the polymers underwent interactions with the cement, resulting in the formation of chemical bonds between the two phases. This resulted in better durability properties when the composites were exposed to polluted chemical environments. 14 refs.


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