Construction and Building Materials 47 (2013) 840–844

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Construction and Building Materials

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The effects of waste glass powder usage on polymer concrete properties

Mehmet Saribiyik a,⇑Abdullah Piskin b, Ali Saribiyik b
a
Sakarya University, Technology Faculty, Sakarya, Turkey
b
Sakarya University, Science Institute, Sakarya, Turkey

h i g h l i g h t s

 The effects of waste glass powder usage on polymer concrete properties are investigated.
 Effects of resin amount in workability are examined.
 Waste glass powder increased the workability of polymer concrete.
 Waste glass powder increased the compressive and flexural strengths.
 The increases are directly proportional to the ratio of glass powder used in the mixture.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In order to improve basic characteristics of the materials such as strength and resistance, macro-level
Received 8 March 2012 combinations are carried out to gather superior properties of two or more materials in one material.
Received in revised form 31 March 2013 Polymer concrete is a composite material which was supported by quartz sand as filler that hardens with
Accepted 4 May 2013
resin and hardener in continuous polymer matrix. In this study, the effects of the amount of resin used for
Available online 14 June 2013
the production of polymer concrete and the workability of the concrete produced by replacing quartz
aggregate powder used as filler with waste glass powder in the ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 47%
Keywords:
and their effects on compressive and flexural strengths were investigated. As a result of the studies
Polymer concrete
Polyester resin
conducted, along with an increase in the amount of resin used in polymer concrete, an increase was also
Glass powder provided in compressive and flexural strength of concrete. As a result of waste glass powder replacement
Quartz aggregate by keeping the amount of resin fixed, important amounts of increase were found out in compressive and
Compressive strength flexural strength of polymer concretes.
Flexural strength Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction silicates, quartz, crushed stone, gravel, limestone, calcareous, gran-

ite, clay, etc. In the composition different types of fine materials
Concrete-polymer composites are materials that are obtained such as: fly ash, silica fume, glass fiber, carbon fiber, etc. can be
by replacing the entire or some part of the cement binder mixed used to improve the properties of polymer concrete [2–4]. Quartz
with water in conventional mortar and concrete with polymer sand can be added to resin or hardener before or it can be sepa-
and by reinforcing cement based binder with polymer. The use of rately added as a third component. The matrix surrounding aggre-
polymers in concrete technology can be divided into three main gates in polymer concrete is polymer; there is no cement [5].
groups as polymer-Portland-cement concrete, polymer-impreg- Polymer concrete has higher mechanical properties compared to
nated concrete and polymer concrete. In the polymer-Portland ce- cement based concrete [6].
ment concrete, a polymeric film was formed around the aggregates Polymer concrete is an ideal raw material mixture for the
and some parts of capillary voids were filled [1]. In underground constructions with its chemical structure and water
polymer-impregnated concrete, some parts of gel voids along with impermeability property. While cement-bound mortars cannot re-
all capillary voids were filled with polymer. Polymer concrete is a sist to chlorine based acidic solutions and the effects of sulfate,
composite material which was supported by aggregates that polymer-based mortars show resistance both as repair mortar or
hardens with chemical reaction and which consists of resin and coating. Polymer concrete is a material that shows good resistance
hardener in continuous polymer matrix. The aggregates can be to water and has a high hydraulic capacity thanks to its smooth-
ness. Their adhesion property is the most important property of
these materials [7]. Therefore, polymer concretes are mostly used
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 5305283546. for repair and adhesion in practice. One of the most important
E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected], alisa properties of polymer concretes is that shrinkage cracks in normal
[email protected].

0950-0618/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.05.023
 M. Saribiyik et al. / Construction and Building Materials 47 (2013) 840–844 841

concrete cannot be seen in the production of polymer concrete enhances the mechanical properties of polymers, it also reduces production costs
[16]. The glass powder used in this study is sold in packed of 25 kg after they are
since water is not used. As a result of this property, polymer
milled and sieved (see Fig. 2). Sieve analysis related to quartz aggregate and glass
concretes are materials resistant to frost and chemical effects powder used in the experiments was given in Table 1.
[5–8]. For this reason, these materials can comfortably be used
for the buildings required to be resistant to chemicals. Another
property of polymer concretes is that their weights are low accord- 3. Preparation of polymer concrete samples
ing to their ultimate bearing capacities [9]. Polymer concretes
whose flexural strengths are higher than normal concretes are In both experimental groups, hardener was added into the poly-
used as an additive material for Portland cement concretes, for pre- ester in the ratio of 65% of polyester by weight and accelerator was
venting abrasion on concrete surface, in structural and decorative added in the ratio of 35% of polyester by weight. In order to inves-
construction panels, sewer pipes, underground tunnel equipment, tigate the workability of polymer concrete, a slump cone was used
drainage canals, for lining of carbon-steel pipes in geothermal in the form of a truncated cone with an upper diameter of 50 mm,
applications and constructions like swimming pools. lower diameter of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm [17]. Easily
Extensive research works have been conducted in determining mixing of fresh concrete, its transportability without any segrega-
the material characteristics of different types of polymer concrete tion, its placement, compactability and leveling its surface are
[10–13]. In this study, the effects of the amount of resin used for defined as workability property of concrete. Workability of
polymer concrete production and the effects of the replacement polymer concretes depends on polymer/aggregate ratio, aggregate
of quartz aggregate powder used as filler with waste glass powder granulometry, polymer/filler ratio, the form and viscosity of
in various amounts on the workability of concrete produced and aggregate. Workability property gets affected by any compounds
compressive and flexural strength were investigated. In the study, in concrete and any conditions during production. Slump test is
experiments were divided into two main groups. In the first group used to determine the consistency of fresh concrete and gives an
experiments, in order to determine the relationship between poly- important idea about workability.
ester percentage and strength, polymer concrete was added resin Polymer concrete was filled in the moulds coated with a mould
and quartz aggregate in the ratio of 37.5%, 40%, 42.5% and 45%, release agent by using a ‘‘desk-type vibrator’’ in order to obtain a
and its workability properties, compressive strength and flexural compact structure by eliminating the air gaps before hardening oc-
strengths were investigated. In the second group experiments, by curred. 6 prismatic samples were prepared for each group in the
taking the results of the first experiments into consideration, a test sizes of 40  40  160 mm for compressive and flexural strength
sample that provided ideal and economic properties was selected tests (Fig. 3). A cure was applied in the oven at 80 °C for 1 h in order
and the effects of its workability and mechanical properties on for polyester resin to be completely polymerized and they were
polymer concrete properties were investigated by replacing fine kept at the room temperature for 20 days for the tests.
quartz aggregate with waste glass powder in the ratios of 10%,
20%, 30%, 40%, 47%. 4. Experimental studies

2. Materials The effects of the amount of resin used for the production of
polymer concrete and the workability of the concrete produced
2.1. Resin
by replacing quartz aggregate powder used as filler with glass
Polyester resin was used as resin. Unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin, one powder in the rates of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 47% and their effects
of the polyester resin types found in the market in various types with a trade name on compressive and flexural strengths were investigated. In the
of isophthalic polyester, was selected. It is designed for packed casting applications first group experiments of the study, which was divided into two
particularly like artificial marble with its good filler acceptance and low tensile main groups, in order to determine the relationship between poly-
properties and it can also be used in applications that do not require fast curing
and high thermal endurance and in CTP applications. Its most distinct properties
ester percentage and strength, polymer concrete was added resin
are that it helps to take more quantities since it wets fillers better in artificial mar- and quartz aggregate (Table 2) in the ratio of 37.5%, 40%, 42.5%
ble applications, and it also enables to produce more natural castings with its clean and 45% and its workability properties, compressive strength and
color. Polymer concrete produced from isophthalic polyester is hard, rigid and has a flexural strengths were investigated. In the second group
high mechanical strength. Additionally, this resin was preferred since it was cheap-
experiments, by taking the results of the first experiments into
er than the others. However, in very thick block castings, it has the risk of cracking
due to internal stresses [14]. Polyester is comprised of resin, hardener (as a solution consideration, a test sample that provided ideal and economic
in methyl ethyl ketone peroxide; dimethyl phthalate) and accelerator (cobalt). properties was selected and the effects of its workability and

2.2. Quartz Sand

Quartz is one of the minerals that is most commonly found on earth and refers
to the compound SiO2 with a mohs hardness of 7, a specific gravity of 2.85 g/cm3,
and a melting temperature of 1785 °C. Quartz sand, which is found in nature as
transparent or opaque, colorless or in various colors such as white, red, pink, blue,
purple, consists of at least 80% SiO2 in its raw form (See Fig. 1). Quartz sand can be
increased to the ratio of 99.9% SiO2 by washing, sieving and if needed, enriching by
flotation. It is an important raw material that is needed in various fields of industry
and is consumed in high amounts. Quartz aggregate was preferred since it provided
rigidity and high strength to polymer concrete in which it was used in its produc-
tion due to its high hardness [15]. Quartz aggregate was divided into three groups
depending on its particle size as fine particle (0.5–1 mm), medium-size particle (1–
3 mm) and coarse particle (3–5 mm).

2.3. Glass powder

Glass powder is a waste material and it becomes granulated by sieving by

means of sieves after they are crushed in the breaker and milled. It is used for sur-
face treatment by blasting, reinforcement of synthetic resins, and path lines. While
the use of glass powder along with reinforcing fillers in the processing of polymers Fig. 1. Quartz aggregate.
842 M. Saribiyik et al. / Construction and Building Materials 47 (2013) 840–844

Table 2
Mixing ratio of materials for workability.

Group No Resin (%) Hardener (%) Accelerator (%) Aggregate (%)

1 37.5 1.65 0.35 60.5
2 40.0 1.65 0.35 58.0
3 42.5 1.65 0.35 55.5
4 45.0 1.65 0.35 53.0

properties were kept fixed. Granulometry of the aggregate used

in the tests was shown in Fig. 4.
As a result of the experimental studies conducted, an increase
was observed in the slump values of the test samples in direct pro-
portion to the increase in the amount of resin used for the produc-
Fig. 2. Glass powder. tion of polymer concrete (Table 3). This increase occurred because
the liquid resin wetted the aggregate surfaces. However, in the
cases when the amount of resin exceeded 42.5%, it was seen that
Table 1 it had no effect on the workability of concrete since segregations
Quartz aggregate and glass powder sieve analysis.
occurred in the fresh mortar. Since the specific gravity of polyester
Sieve size Amount of passing materials (%) resin was lower than those of the aggregates along with the in-
(mm) crease in the amount of resin, a decrease occurred in the unit
Quartz (3– Quartz (1– Quartz (0.5– Glass Powder(0–
5 mm) 3 mm) 1 mm) 1 mm) weights of the test samples as already obtained in another study
4 100 100 100 100 [20]. It was found out that the increase in the amount of resin
2 98 99 100 100 had no certain effect on the flexural strength of the test samples
1 0.5 46 99 100 but it increased the compressive strength approximately in the ra-
0.5 0 5 62 85
tio of 7% (Table 3).
0.25 0 0 10 62
0.125 0 0 1 54 The test sample that provided ideal and economic properties
0.063 0 0 0.5 28 was selected according to the results obtained and works were car-
ried out to improve the workability and mechanical properties of it
by means of glass powder replacement. Considering the workabil-
ity and mechanical properties, the amount of resin used in the ratio
mechanical properties on polymer concrete properties were inves-
of 40% by volume was fixed, glass powder in the ratio of 10% was
tigated by replacing fine quartz aggregate with glass powder in the
started to be used instead of fine aggregate in the size of (0.5–
ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 47%.
1 mm). Mix proportions of the aggregates in the size of (1–3)
Granulometry, shape and diameter of aggregates used for the
mm and (3–5) mm were not changed. The other samples also were
production of polymer concrete are important in terms of strength
replaced with glass powder in the ratios of 20%, 30%, 40% and 47%,
and workability [17]. In this study, in order to adjust its granulom-
respectively. As a result of the glass powder replacement, glass
etry, mix proportions were calculated according to Fuller method
powder was used instead of fine quartz aggregate in the size of
(Formula 1) [18,19].
(0.5–1) mm in the test sample No. 2.5 (Table 4).
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi Since the aggregate proportions in the tests intended to investi-
di gate the effects of the amount of resin were kept fixed, there was
Pi ¼ 100  ð1Þ no change in the granulometry of the mixture. However, in tests
Dmax
including glass powder replacements, there were differences in
the granulometry of the mixtures since glass powder was used in-
where Pi is the Sieved ones (%), di is aperture size (mm), Dmax is Big- stead of fine aggregate by fixing the amount of resin in the mix-
gest grain diameter (mm). tures (Fig. 5). In the studies carried out, it was determined that
The mix proportions of quartz aggregate itself in the sizes of granulometry of the mixture was close to ideal fuller curve with
(0.5–1 mm, 1–3 mm, 3–5 mm) used in the tests in order to an increase in glass powder which was used instead of fine quartz
determine the effects of resin percentage on polymer concrete sand. As seen in Table 5, polymer concrete grout became more fluid

100
90
80
Passed Aggregate (%)

70
60
50
40
30
20
Fuller
10
1. Group mix
0
0.063 0.15 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 5
Siev Sizes (mm)

Fig. 3. Polymer concrete specimens. Fig. 4. Granulometry of the aggregate used in the workability tests.
 M. Saribiyik et al. / Construction and Building Materials 47 (2013) 840–844 843

140
Table 3 Flexural Strength
Results of workability tests.
120 Comp. Strength
Group Resin Slump Unit weight Flexural Compressive
No. ratio (%) (cm) (kg/m3) strength strength
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) 100

Strength (N/mm2)
1 37.5 7 2014 13.9 87.0
2 40.0 8 1935 13.3 90.2 80
3 42.5 9 1912 14.1 90.9
4 45.0 9 1862 13.2 92.9
60

40

Table 4
20
Mixing ratio of glass powder substituted specimens.

Group Resin Hardener Accelerator Aggregate Glass powder

0
No (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 0 10 20 30 40 47
2.1 40 1.65 0.35 52 6 Glass Powder (%)
2.2 40 1.65 0.35 46 12
2.3 40 1.65 0.35 41 17 Fig. 6. Results of samples replaced with glass powder substituted aggregate.
2.4 40 1.65 0.35 35 23
2.5 40 1.65 0.35 31 27
Table 6
Glass powder substitution effects of polymer concrete properties.

Substitution Increase in Increase in value Increase in value of

100 Fuller Mix no 2.1 increase in glass value of of flexural compressive
90 Mix no 2.2 Mix no 2.3
Mix no 2.4 Mix no 2.5 powder (%) slump (%) strength (%) strength (%)
80 Fuller Mix no 2.1
10 19 11 1
Passed Aggregate (%)

Mix no 2.2 Mix no 2.3

70 Mix no 2.4 Mix no 2.5 20 38 59 21
30 50 78 29
60
40 69 58 20
50 47 81 51 16
40
30
20
10 5. Conclusion and suggestions
0
0.063 0.15 0.5 0.5 1 2 4 5 Due to the reasons like changing viscosity, decreasing coeffi-
Siev Sizes (mm) cient of thermal expansion, increasing hardness, and reducing cost,
polyester resins are added filling materials such as filler or aggre-
Fig. 5. Granulometry of glass powder substituted aggregate. gate. Workability of polymer concretes changes depending on the
viscosity of resin, fineness and particle shape and aggregate con-
centration. The granulometry of the aggregate used and the struc-
Table 5
Results of samples replaced with glass powder substituted aggregate.
ture of the aggregate affect compressive and flexural strength as
well as the workability of polymer concrete. The effects of the
Group Resin Glass Slump Unit Flexural Comp. amount of resin used for polymer concrete production on fresh
No ratio powder (cm) weight strength strength
(%) (%) (kg/m3) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
concrete workability and the effects of the replacement of quartz
aggregate used as a filling material with glass powder on the work-
2 40 0 8.0 1935 13.3 90.2
ability and mechanical properties of polymer concrete were inves-
2.1 40 10 9.5 1994 14.8 90.8
2.2 40 20 11.0 1970 21.1 109.2 tigated. As a result of the slump, compressive and flexural tests
2.3 40 30 12.0 1978 23.7 116.3 applied to prismatic samples that were produced by mixing five
2.4 40 40 13.5 1963 20.9 108.1 different kinds of glass powder:
2.5 40 47 14.5 1914 20.1 104.6

 An increase of 13% in the ratio of resin provided an increase of

and it improved its workability with the increase in the amount of 29% in the slump value which was taken as a basis for workabil-
glass powder. Since the amount of resin in the mixtures were kept ity. Accordingly, flexural and compressive strengths also
fixed and the unit weight of glass powder used was close to the increased. Additional increase in resin did not provide a positive
unit weight of quartz aggregate, it was determined that very few contribution to workability.
changes occurred in the apparent specific gravities of the test sam-  It was determined that workability of concrete increased with
ples (Table 5 and Fig. 6). an increase in the amount of resin used as a binder in the mix-
A more ideal curve was formed since glass powder absorbed ture, and as a result of using glass powder instead of quartz
polyester resin which was used as a binder less than quartz sand powder used in the mixture by fixing the amount of resin,
and also mix granulometries of the samples replaced with glass workability of concrete increased much more when compared
powder came closer to Fuller curve, and it contributed to increase to the increase in the amount of resin.
the compactness ratio of concrete. As a result of this it was  Granulometry curve of concrete comes closer to the ideal fuller
determined that glass powder enhanced the flexural strength of curve by fixing the amount of resin used in the polymer con-
concrete in the ratio of 78% and the compressive strength in the ra- crete mixture and increasing the amount of glass powder used
tio of 29% (Table 6). as filler. Since the compactness ratio of concrete reached its
844 M. Saribiyik et al. / Construction and Building Materials 47 (2013) 840–844

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