RubCon Sample Materials

Polymer concrete based on two kinds of liquid rubbers was investigated type A, low molecular polybutadiene (Butarez , Liten [1,4-cis 25%-39% 1,4-trans 35%-40%, 1,2-vinyl 28%-35%]) and type B, stereoregular low molecular rubber (Polyoil 110/130 , Ricon (1,4-cis 70%-80% 1,4-trans 20%-30%, 1,2-vinyl l%-2%). The main physical-mechanical properties are shown in Table 2.5. 

Creep Deformation of Plain RubCon at Long-Term Compressive Load 

RubCon application in load-bearing structures is directly connected to the stress-strain state of a material under long-term loading action (creep). Creep of RubCon at compression was determined on samples measuring 40 x 40 x 160 mm. 

Based on these experiments, the stress-strain relationship can be written as follows  

Source Reprinted from Yu. Potapov, O. Figovsky, Yu. Borisov, S. Pinaev, and D. Beilin, Creep of Polymer Concrete at Compressive Loading, J. Scientific Israel Technological Advantages 5, nos. 1-2 (2003) 1-10. With permission. 

---

For the experiment, test RubCon samples sized 40 x 40 x 160 mm were prepared. Tests were carried out in the special chamber, in the temperature range -80°C +80°C appropriate to real operating conditions of the material. During experiments, the stress-strain state of samples was determined depending on the temperature of the environment. In particular, the changes of the modulus of elasticity, ultimate strength at compression, and the ultimate deformations of a material at influence of temperature were determined in comparison with similar values obtained in testing of control samples at room temperature. 

A series of prismatic reinforced RubCon samples were produced. The reinforcement material was ribbed steel bar 0 8 mm. The height of samples or depth of a reinforcement anchorage was equaled from 35 up to 120 mm, that is, (4.3 15)0 the thickness of the protection layer was 8, 16, and 24 mm (1, 2, and 3) 0. Displacements of a reinforcing bar relatively the end face of the RubCon prism and load were measured during the tests. Results of these tests are shown in Figure 2.14 and Figure 2.15. 

Experimental investigations were performed with fiber-reinforced RubCon samples measuring 4 x 4 x 16 cm. Various fiber materials were used steel, polypropylene, rough basalt, and glass. The reinforcement ratio for appropriate fiber materials was adopted according to publicized research [4,11]. The optimal volume of fiber content is 1.0%-1.5% for steel fibers and 1.0-5.0% for glass fibers. 

In the course of our tests we observed various types of RubCon sample destruction depending on the fiber reinforcement material. The application of rough basalt or glass fibers results in brittle destruction of samples, which occurs after fiber breakage. The crack formation moment coincides with the breaking of fibers. It should be noted that crack formation of RubCon samples reinforced with steel or polypropylene fibers occurs much earlier than the fracture of fibers. 

It can be seen that the elevated temperature reduces the chemical resistance of RubCon samples and leads to their destruction due to accelerated chemical reactions between the corrosion environment and the material. 

The effect of y-radiation on the RubCon structure was studied by infrared spectroscopy in an area 4,000-1-400 cm-1. Spectrums of the RubCon samples demonstrate the essential changes of the material structure after y-radiation exposure (Figure 2.64) [25,26],... 

Results of the experiment are illustrated in Figures 2.68 and 2.69 and Table 2.12. For a RubCon sample thickness of x = 1 cm, results are shown in Table 2.13. Table 2.14 illustrates the absorbing properties of investigated materials with cement concrete (for a narrow radiation beam). The material layers necessary for attenuation of the primary flux of y-quantums in 2,10, and 100 times are shown. 

FIGURE 1.12 Sample of RubCon. (From O. Figovsky and D, Beilin, Building Materials Based on Advanced Polymer Matrix Review, J. Scientific Israel Advanced Technology 10, no. 3 (2008) 1-119.)... 

In a situation that combines long-term compressive load and an aggressive environment, the mechanical properties of a material deteriorate because the complex influence of these factors is accompanied by a synergetic effect. Research on RubCon creep in these conditions was carried out on samples measuring 40 x 40 x 160 mm in the special chamber at a temperature of 20°C 2°C. Three series of samples were tested in different corrosion environments in water, in a 30% solution of a sulfuric... 

The analysis of the obtained results shows that fiber-reinforced RubCon is a composite hydrophobic material with a coefficient of water resistance of Kcr = 0.995. Decreasing compressive strength was not observed and water absorption was 0.05% on weighing of samples. The small change of weight is due to the hydrophobic surface of RubCon. This is due to the intrinsic properties of the polybutadiene binder, which is not moistened with water. Furthermore, polybutadiene oligomer is nonpolar liquid. 

---