Characterization of Steel Fiber Reinforced Acrylic Emulsion Polymer Modified Concrete (SFRPMC) through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis

Abstract

The results show the effect of polymer modification on the behavior of Ca (OH)2 in steel fiber reinforced concrete. The polymer modified concrete were prepared using acrylic emulsion polymer at various polymer-cement ratios; they were tested for mechanical strengths, moulded into specimens and cured. The cured specimens were subjected for compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The small specimens that moulded were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD). From the test results, it is concluded that formation of Ca (OH)2 in the polymer modified concrete reinforced with steel fiber is reduced possibly because of the absorption of Ca (OH)2 on polymer films formed in the concrete. The extent of reduction in the quantity of Ca (OH)2 depends upon the polymer-cement ratio, polymer type or both. Generally SFRPMC of mix 43 with 2.5% polymer-cement ratio were found to be more effective than other SFRPMC with 1.0% and 4.0% acrylic emulsion polymer in reducing the quantity of Ca (OH)2 in SFRPMC. The cement modifiers did not cause any detrimental effect on the degree of hydration as in SFRPMC therefore, does not provide a proper means for predicting their degree of hydration.