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Preparation, Structure and Characterization of Polymer/Cement Composites II

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 10604

Special Issue Editors

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Nan’er Huan Road Xi’an, Xi’an 710064, China
Interests: application of polymers in civil engineering materials
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Guest Editor
School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: solid waste utilization; green construction technology; functional pavement materials; asphalt modifying technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of polymer/cement composites and intensive research on the relationship between the structure and properties of materials, more polymer/cement composites are being widely utilized, and research on polymer/cement composites has become an important area in China and worldwide. Compared with common cement composites, polymers can significantly improve the tensile strength, flexural strength, flexibility, compactness and durability of cement composites. Polymer/cement composites also have good chemical corrosion resistance, permeability resistance, low-temperature crack resistance, etc. Meanwhile, the functional groups of the polymers react with the hydration products of cement composites through ionic bonds or coordination bonds. Some atoms and molecules of polymers can also interact with inorganic compounds through hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. New methods such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis have also widened the research field. The construction of polymer/cement composites in the current context is still a critical challenge for researchers and technologists.

Recognizing the importance of theory and simulation in understanding the properties of polymer/cement composites across scales and under a variety of conditions, this Special Issue, “Preparation, Structure and Performance Characterization of Polymer/Cement Composites”, invites contributions addressing aspects of polymer/cement composites systems such as the formulation of new constitutive modelling, studies on the mechanical properties of polymer/cement composites, the development of multi-scale research to address more complicated systems, new theoretical developments and simulations advancing the knowledge of polymer/cement composites, new computing methods for polymer/cement composites, approaches for predicting material composition and morphology in polymer/cement composites, etc. This list is only indicative and by no means exhaustive; any original theoretical or simulation works or review articles on the role of polymer/cement composites are welcome. 

Dr. Bowen Guan
Dr. Xiaolong Sun
Dr. Chunli Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer
  • cementitious composites
  • recycled materials
  • smart additives
  • structure characterization
  • multiscale performance evaluation
  • numerical modeling
  • durability
  • regeneration and sustainability

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3998 KiB  
Article
Effect of Salt Solution Environment on the Aging of Styrene−Butadiene−Styrene (SBS)-Modified Asphalt
by Chengwei Xing, Bohan Zhu, Kingsley C. K. Chiang, Cheng Chen, Lingxiao Liu and Zhibin Chang
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121709 - 14 Jun 2024
Viewed by 759
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate the aging mechanism of asphalt in the sea salt erosion environment from a rheological point of view. In order to simulate the real pavement aging process in the sea salt erosion environment, base asphalt and [...] Read more.
The aim of this paper is to investigate the aging mechanism of asphalt in the sea salt erosion environment from a rheological point of view. In order to simulate the real pavement aging process in the sea salt erosion environment, base asphalt and Styrene−Butadiene−Styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt were selected for salt environment aging tests. The asphalt samples were aged via a thin film oven test (TFOT) and a pressure aging vessel (PAV) test. Then, thermo-oxidizing conditions were created after the samples were immersed in salt solution, mixed with four different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), to investigate the aging state of asphalt. Temperature scan (TS), frequency scan (FS), and multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) tests performed using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) were used to investigate the effects on the rheological properties of aged asphalt in a salt environment. The results showed that both base asphalt and SBS-modified asphalt were aged to different degrees under mixed salt solutions. The two asphalt samples aged in a salt environment showed increased hardness. SBS-modified asphalt exhibited higher aging resistance compared with base asphalt in the sea salt environment. However, due to the degradation of the SBS modifier and the aging of base asphalt, the properties of the SBS-modified asphalt showed more obvious complexity with changes in salt solution concentrations. Full article
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19 pages, 13086 KiB  
Article
Identification of Hybrid Polymer Material STERED and Basic Material Properties Used in Road Substructures or Pavements
by Daniel Papán, Martin Decký, Daniel Ďugel and Filip Durčák
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050663 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1424
Abstract
Modern road construction uses a large number of polymer-based materials. Material composition depends on their roles. Among the most important functions of road body materials is to transfer all loads safely to the subgrade. A thorough understanding of material properties in various climates [...] Read more.
Modern road construction uses a large number of polymer-based materials. Material composition depends on their roles. Among the most important functions of road body materials is to transfer all loads safely to the subgrade. A thorough understanding of material properties in various climates is crucial for this purpose. In the automotive industry, polymer residues from recycling can be used to make innovative materials, such as STERED, a hybrid polymer composite. Drawing on the porous nature of this material, this paper investigates its mechanical behavior. For road construction, the compressive properties of the material are most important. The paper presents the results of a detailed analysis and experimental research of the STERED material from in-lab tests. Successful research will lead to the inclusion of the material in road body compositions with excellent retention properties, vibration damping, and potential in circular economy. Full article
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14 pages, 4099 KiB  
Article
Effect of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Size on Microstructure and Compressive Strength of Concrete
by Xiaobo Niu, Yile Zhang, Yogarajah Elakneswaran, Miyu Sasaki, Takeshi Takayama and Hajime Kawai
Polymers 2024, 16(2), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16020197 - 9 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1839
Abstract
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are hydrophilic, polymeric network materials renowned for their ability to enhance various properties of cementitious materials. This investigation examines the impact of SAP size on the hydration degree, porosity, and compressive strength of cement pastes and concrete under diverse curing [...] Read more.
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are hydrophilic, polymeric network materials renowned for their ability to enhance various properties of cementitious materials. This investigation examines the impact of SAP size on the hydration degree, porosity, and compressive strength of cement pastes and concrete under diverse curing conditions and ageing periods. The findings reveal that SAP addition stimulates the hydration of the C2S phase, particularly during the early curing stages, thereby favouring early strength development. However, the effect of SAPs on hydration promotion diminishes as their size increases. Conversely, the size of SAPs affects the hydration range of their action, and the 400 µm SAP demonstrates the most extensive range of hydration enhancement, reaching up to 105 µm. Additionally, SAPs effectively reduce porosity in small pores (4 nm–10 μm), with 200 μm and 400 μm SAPs exhibiting the highest efficacy. While analysing the effects of SAPs on larger pores (>10 μm), the results show that although larger SAPs result in larger average porosity, the total porosity is effectively reduced, particularly in samples incorporating 400 μm SAP. The compressive strength of cement paste, even after 28 days, is slightly reduced following the introduction of SAPs. However, the strength of concrete, due to the naturally occurring pores eliminating the negative effects of the pores produced by SAPs, is significantly increased following the introduction of SAPs, especially 400 µm SAP. Full article
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17 pages, 5940 KiB  
Article
Research of Water Absorption and Release Mechanism of Superabsorbent Polymer in Cement Paste
by Xiao Qin, Yongkang Lin, Jie Mao, Xiaolong Sun, Zhengzhuan Xie and Qingjian Huang
Polymers 2023, 15(14), 3062; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143062 - 16 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3137
Abstract
The water absorption and release properties of superabsorbent polymers’ (SAP) internal curing agent are affected by many factors, such as solution properties, the ambient temperature and humidity and the particle size of SAP, which determine the curing effect and the durability of cement [...] Read more.
The water absorption and release properties of superabsorbent polymers’ (SAP) internal curing agent are affected by many factors, such as solution properties, the ambient temperature and humidity and the particle size of SAP, which determine the curing effect and the durability of cement concrete structures directly. In this paper, the variation rule of the water absorbing capacity of SAP in simulated cement paste under different solutions and environmental conditions was studied. Based on microscopic image technology, the dynamic swelling behavior of the SAP particles was explored. The water release performance of SAP in cement paste was analyzed by both the tracer method and the negative pressure method. The results show that the water absorption of SAP in cement paste varied from 27 to 33 times. The ionic valence had a significant effect on the water absorption capacity of SAP, which suggests that the larger the ionic radius, the lower the absorption of SAP. The higher the temperature of the solution, the greater the water absorption rate of SAP. While the SAP particle size was less than 40–80 mesh, a slight ‘agglomeration effect’ was prone to occur, but the absorption state of SAP was more stable. Based on the swelling kinetic equation of SAP and the time-dependent swelling morphology of SAP in cement paste, a swelling kinetic model was established. The water release performance of SAP was less affected by the capillary negative pressures, and it would not release the water prematurely during the plastic stage, which was conducive to the continuous internal curing process of hardened paste in the later stage. Full article
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17 pages, 6311 KiB  
Article
Effect of Long-Term Aging on Fatigue and Thermal Cracking Performance of Polyphosphoric Acid and Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene-Modified Bio-Blend Bitumen
by Haitao Wang, Zhongming Du, Guiyong Liu, Xiaofeng Luo and Chunlu Yang
Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132911 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1096
Abstract
Polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) were adopted to produce PPA-SBS-modified bio-blend bitumen, which achieved excellent mechanical performance. However, its long-range performance, such as the fatigue and thermal cracking behavior under long-term thermal oxidation, is not well understood. Therefore, a pressure aging vessel [...] Read more.
Polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) were adopted to produce PPA-SBS-modified bio-blend bitumen, which achieved excellent mechanical performance. However, its long-range performance, such as the fatigue and thermal cracking behavior under long-term thermal oxidation, is not well understood. Therefore, a pressure aging vessel (PAV) system was applied to simulate the aging behavior of the bitumen under the action of thermal oxidation. Then, a linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test combined with a viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model was applied to investigate the fatigue properties of the bitumen. Moreover, a bending beam rheometer (BBR) test was conducted to evaluate the thermal cracking resistance of the bitumen before and after PAV aging. Meanwhile, an atomic force microscope (AFM) was applied to observe the microscopic topography. The results show that the original compound-modified bitumen can bear more fatigue damage than that of the control bitumen at the failure point, and it also has excellent fatigue resistance at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% applied strain. Moreover, the VECD model can accurately predict the fatigue life of the bitumen under different applied strains. The variation ratio of stiffness modulus for the compound-modified bitumen is below that of the control bitumen after PAV aging, so it shows a better anti-aging performance. Finally, the AFM test shows that PPA and bio-bitumen decrease the heterogeneity of the bitumen, reducing the difference between phases. Full article
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16 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Investigation into the Rheological Properties and Microstructure of Silt/Crumb Rubber Compound-Modified Asphalt
by Lu Huang, Jiuguang Geng, Mingyuan Chen, Yanhui Niu, Wenhao Wang and Zichen Gao
Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2474; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112474 - 27 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
Near the coast of China, a large amount of sediment is produced during construction work. In order to mitigate the environmental damage caused by sediment and enhance the performance of rubber-modified asphalt effectively, solidified silt material and waste rubber were prepared to modify [...] Read more.
Near the coast of China, a large amount of sediment is produced during construction work. In order to mitigate the environmental damage caused by sediment and enhance the performance of rubber-modified asphalt effectively, solidified silt material and waste rubber were prepared to modify asphalt, and its macroscopic properties, such as viscosity and chemical composition, were determined via a routine physical test, DSR, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Fluorescence Microscopy (FM). The results show that, with the increase in powder particles and the addition of a certain amount of hardened mud, the mixing and compaction temperature of modified asphalt can be significantly increased—still reaching the design standard. In addition, the high thermal stability and fatigue resistance of the modified asphalt were clearly better than those of the ordinary asphalt. From the FTIR analysis, rubber particles and hardened silt only exhibited mechanical agitation with the asphalt. Considering that excessive silt might result in the aggregation of matrix asphalt, the addition of an appropriate amount of hardened solidified silt material can eliminate the aggregation. Therefore, the performance of modified asphalt was optimum when solidified silt was added. Our research can provide an effective theoretical basis and reference values for the practical application of compound-modified asphalt. Therefore, 6%HCS(6:4)-CRMA have better performance. Compared to ordinary rubber-modified asphalt, the composite-modified asphalt binder has better physical properties and a more suitable construction temperature. The composite-modified asphalt uses discarded rubber and silt as raw materials, which can effectively protect the environment. Meanwhile, the modified asphalt has excellent rheological properties and fatigue resistance. Full article
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