Strength degradation of polymer concrete in acidic environments

This paper presents an assessment of the chemical resistance of eight different compositions of polymeric mortars using four different concentrations of filler, fly ash, and two types of unsaturated polyester resins, namely isophtalic polyester and orthophtalic polyester. The samples were exposed to seven different acid environments that represent those that often account for corrosive processes in industrial environments. None of the compositions in the study showed evidence of physical surface changes nor weight loss. There was a decrease in the flexural strength of the samples exposed to corrosive agents and this effect was more pronounced in the compositions with lower filler concentrations. However, even in those samples, the remaining flexural strength values remained far higher than those found in mortars prepared with Portland cement, an inorganic binder. Statistical analysis showed that the type of resin, the concentration of filler and the type of corrosive solution used have a significant effect on the chemical resistance of the polymeric mortars investigated in this study. SEM analyses also showed that the chemical attack occurred in the polymer matrix–aggregate interface.