What is polymer concrete?

Polymer concrete is not traditional concrete, although they have some materials in common. It is used for construction projects like traditional, but the polymer components give several features that make it more secure and durable than ordinary concrete. The polymer tends to be more expensive and more denser than traditional concrete.

Definition

Polymer concrete is a mixture of aggregate that uses some type of epoxy to cure and harden in place. Usually a mixture of standard epoxy, polyester or vinyl is used, but polymer concrete can be made with many polymer resins which allow the concrete to be poured or vibrated before it hardens. It is cured through a chemical reaction with the polymeric material. Like traditional concrete, it also has water, sand and gravel as main ingredients.

Benefits

Polymer concrete offers various benefits depending on the resin used to make it. Acrylic joints harden quickly and provide weather resistance, while epoxies create a very strong material that shrinks as it heals. Furan resins can withstand high temperatures, and can replace the resins polyuria’s phenols and formaldehyde in many construction projects.

Considerations

The polymer concrete should be mixed accurately and very well. You cannot mix it in advance and keep moving it to avoid curing (chemical reaction happens anyway). In addition, the chemical is in this type of concrete can be very dangerous and anyone who is close to it should wear masks and protect their skin.

Applications

Polymer concrete is used for many types of special construction projects. Like other types of concrete it can be used to join various components or to give a base or structure. The material is used in industrial or electric concrete constructions where long lasting and resistance to different types of corrosion is required.

Polymer mortar

Polymer mortar is a mild type of polymer concrete made only of a bonding material and fine aggregate such as sand. It is used primarily to attach objects like normal mortar, but it does not have the same tendency to wear in harsh climates. It can also be used to cover objects for protection.