Deformability in Unsaturated Polyester Resin-Based Concrete: Effects of the Concentration of Shrinkage-Reducing Agent and Type of Filler

Abstract

In this study, the effects of shrinkage reduction agent (SRA) content and filler type on the deformability characteristics of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin-based polymer concrete were experimentally investigated. Specifically, the setting shrinkage, thermal expansion, maximum compressive strain and the modulus of elasticity of UP polymer concrete were all analyzed. Setting shrinkage was found to be influenced by the UP resin, the SRA and filler. The thermal expansion, maximum compressive strain and modulus of elasticity were also affected by the aggregate. The effect of SRA content on deformability was found to be greater than that of the filler type. To put UP polymer concrete to efficient use, it is essential to secure proper deformability according to the intended purpose. At that time, it is desirable that the deformation characteristics resulting from the SRA content and filler type sufficiently reflect when the mix proportion is determined. The effects of filler type on the deformability of UP polymer concrete are such that: A uniform dispersion of filler particles impacts the setting shrinkage; the thermal expansion is influenced by the filler’s various thermal expansion properties; the compressive strain is related to the nature of the small spherical particles that tend to fill porosity, producing better packing of the aggregate materials; and the modulus of elasticity is influenced by the density, which is related to the strength of the filler. However, additional in-depth studies are required on all of these elements.