Physical and Chemical Properties of Polymer Impregnated Concrete on the Preparation Conditions

Polymer impregnated concrete (PIC), prepared by impregnating and polymerizing monomer in the precast cement mortar, has excellent mechanical and chemical resistant properties compared to conventional cement mortar. In this work, the impregnation of the Methylmethacrylate (MMA) in the precast cement mortars was carried out using an ultrasonic vibration system and the polymerization performed in two different procedures viz., conventional thermal and microwave methods. A modified microwave reactor using a magnetron was employed for polymerization of the MMA. In the latter case, the degree of polymerization of the monomer was enhanced by 30% and it resulted in a more homogenous PIC than that prepared using the conventional method. The mechanical strengths (compressive and flexural) of the precast cement mortar were found to have increased by more than 2-3 times after impregnation. The percentage weight loss of these mortars found after exposure to 5M sulphuric acid for 3, 5, 7 and 14 days was found to be far less than their un-impregnated counterparts. This improved durability may be attributed to the sealing of the pores and cracks by the polymer. Scanning electron micrographs and the data obtained from the porosimeter also confirms the above fact.