Evaluación de un biopolimero en la calidad del concreto: evaluaciones preliminares

The objective of the present paper is to evaluate the effects of a biopolymer (i.e. poly(β- N-acetylglucosamine-co-β-glucosamine)) obtained from industrial organic waste, as concrete admixture. For this purpose, concrete specimens were prepared with a waterto- cement ratio of 0.68 and with 0.1 wt%, 1 wt% and 10 wt% of biopolymer added to the mix. Compressive Strength at 38 days, Total and Effective Porosity and Capillary Absorption Tests were performed according to ASTM C39-12a, DURAR and UNE 83982:2008 respectively. The results showed that, a dose of 1 wt% biopolymer to the concrete mixture increases their compressive strength at 38 days and decrease their total and effective porosity, compared to the blank. It is postulated that this is due to the reaction of the biopolymer with water molecules, reducing the water content of the kneaded concrete, thereby improving durability of the design. En este trabajo se pretende evaluar el efecto de un biopolimero (poli(β-N-acetilglucosamina- co-β-glucosamina)) proveniente de desechos organicos industriales, como aditivo del concreto. Para ello se elaboraron probetas de concreto con relacion agua cemento 0,68 aditivadas con 0,1%, 1%, y 10% del biopolimero granulado. Se realizaron pruebas de Resistencia a la Compresion luego de 38 dias de curado, Porosidad Total y Absorcion Capilar mediante las normas: ASTM C39-12, DURAR and UNE 83982:2008 respectivamente. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el concreto aditivo con 1% mejora la resistencia a la compresion y disminuye la porosidad total y efectiva con respecto al concreto patron. Esto se debe posiblemente a la reaccion del biopolimero con las moleculas del agua, reduciendo el contenido de agua de la mezcla de amasado, mejorando asi la durabilidad del concreto disenado.