Effects of resins on mechanical performance of polymer concrete

Cement manufacturing is currently responsible for one of the highest levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption in construction industry. Thus, the use of sustainable binder materials instead of cement has become a worldwide issue. Previous studies have shown that polymers are a reliable and sustainable alternative to cement in construction, while polymer concretes (PCs) are seen as the biggest alternative to conventional cement concretes in the long term. In this study, the main objective is to investigate the effects of resins, which are used as binder components in polymer concrete, on the mechanical properties of the PCs. To achieve this, ten different orthophthalic unsaturated polyester resins (OUPR) that are commonly used in construction industry are considered, and fresh concrete tests and hardened concrete tests are performed on deck plates prepared with these resins. Based on the analysis results, each resin is given a performance index. The experimental results indicate that the type of resin has a significant impact on mechanical properties of polymer concrete.