Tensile Properties of a Flexible Polymer-Cement Composite Containing Portland Cement and Vae Emulsion

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the tensile properties of a flexible polymer-cement composite (FPCC) which was mainly prepared by vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion and Portland cement. An orthogonal experiment design was used to investigate the effects of the powder-emulsion ratio, the cement ratio and the filler type on the basic tensile indicators including the elastic recovery ratio, the tensile strength, the critical tensile strain, the tensile modulus and the elongation at the break. The results indicate that the major influence factors for the tensile properties of the FPCC are the powder-emulsion ratio and the cement ratio. With an increase in these two parameters, the tensile strength and the tensile modulus increase and the elastic recovery ratio, the critical tensile strain and the elongation at the break decrease. Furthermore, for the tensile strength and the tensile modulus, the influence of the cement ratio is more significant than the powder-emulsion ratio, and this is reversed for the case of the elastic recovery ratio, the critical tensile strain and the elongation at the break. The effect of the filler type on the FPCC is far less than the other two factors although its F test results are significant. An FPCC added with ground calcium carbonate exhibits a relatively higher tensile strength and tensile modulus. An FPCC added with a quartz powder has a better deformation ability.

Tensile and Fixed Elongation Properties of Polymer-Based Cement Flexible Composite under Water/Corrosive Solution Environment

“…The ratio of PCFC mixture is shown in the Table 2. As described in our previous research [29], the procedure for preparing PCFC specimens for fixed elongation and tensile test was as follows: (1) the dispersant, film-forming additive, silane coupling agents, plasticizers and half of the defoamer were added to the mixed emulsion with styrene-acrylic and VAE and homogenized with an electric mixer at 300 r/min stirring rate for 150 s. (2) The cement, talcum powder, and heavy calcium carbonate were mixed and stirred for 3-5 min and these powder materials were then added into the emulsion and homogenized at 700 r/min stirring rate for 10 min.…”

“…The raw materials used to prepare PCFC included [29]: styrene-acrylic and VAE emulsion, the chemical compositions and physical properties of which are listed in Table 1; 42.5R ordinary Portland cement from Lantian Yaobai (Xi'an, China); talcum powder(60% SiO 2 , 30% MgO, 600 mesh) produced by Wantong Powder factory (Dashiqiao, China); heavy calcium carbonate (500 mesh, purity > 99%) produced by Weina Powder factory (Chengdu, China). In addition, some conventional additives were added, such as defoamers (purity: 99%, pH: 5.1, flash point: 174 • C) from San Nopco company (Shanghai, China), dispersants (solid content: 42.5%, purity: 99%, pH: 7.5) from San Nopco company, film-forming additive (C 12 H 24 O 3 ≥ 99.0%) from Tianyin Chemical industry (Yixing, China), plasticizers (purity: 99%, density: 0.985 g/mL) from Zhiyuan Chemical company (Yixing, China), and silane coupling agents (purity:98%, refractive index: 1.487) from Yingchu Chemical company (Jinan, China).…”

“…A total of 189 PCFC specimens were prepared. As described in our previous research [29], the procedure for preparing PCFC specimens for fixed elongation and tensile test was as follows: (1) the dispersant, film-forming additive, silane coupling agents, plasticizers and half of the defoamer were added to the mixed emulsion with styrene-acrylic and VAE and homogenized with an electric mixer at 300 r/min stirring rate for 150 s.…”

“…The tests were completed according to our previous studies [29]. The fixed elongation test was conducted using a self-made device (Figure 2).…”

“…In this study, based on optimized material selection and mix ratio design as per our previous studies [29], water and corrosive solution erosion effects on the durability of PCFC analysis was performed. This paper mainly aims to explore the tensile performances of the FPCC material using a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion (VAE emulsion) and Portland cement as the major raw materials.…”