Epoxy resin and ground tyre rubber replacement for cement in concrete: Compressive behaviour and durability properties

In this research, the compressive behavior of concrete mixtures incorporating epoxy resin with and without hardener and ground rubber (tyre powder) as cement replacement was investigated. Various experimental mixes were produced varying the polymer/cement mass ratio. A general design criteria was adopted in the design of the mixtures in order to have a fair comparison between polymer-cement and traditional concretes. Concrete mixes were characterized through mechanical and durability tests. Mechanical tests included compressive and flexural strength. Durability was evaluated through the study of chloride ingress into the concrete matrix. Results indicate that the use of polymer-cement concrete modifies the post-peak slope of the stress-strain curve, showing a better ductility, having a special interest in earthquake engineering.