CEMENT MORTAR IMPROVEMENT USING RUBBER LATEX AS AN ADDITIVE
CEMENT MORTAR IMPROVEMENT USING RUBBER LATEX AS AN ADDITIVE
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Date
1998-08
Authors
Muhammad, Bala
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Abstract
This thesis presents the results obtained on the effectiveness of rubberlatex
as a means of improving cement mortar performance.
Mortar cubes of the two principal mix-ratios 1:3 and 1:6 were prepared
and cured in ordinary moist environment and in an aggressive environment
(untreated A.B.U dam water) for control strength and that of the defective
cubes respectively. Another set of the cement mortar cubes of both mixes,
modified with the polymer rubber latex-were also cured in the aggressive
media in order to determine the effectiveness of the latex as a means of
improvement. The curing periods for all samples in both the ordinary and the
aggressive media were 7, 21, 28 and 56 days.
A significant change in the compressive strength was observed between
control identical cubes (cubes without an addition of polymer) which were
immersed in the two curing media correspondingly. The 7 day control strength
is 24.74N/mm2 while that of the defective cubes falls to 18.06N/mm2 (a
reduction of 27.0%).
Similarly, the average variation in strength figures for the subsequent
curing ages are 14.7%, 13.8%, and 24.5% (i.e. for 21, 28 and 56 days
respectively).
The reductions in the strength figures between the compared sets were
as a result of the deterioration effect of the aggressive water used.
The effect of the rubber latex is witnessed from the results of the
modified cubes obtained. Taking ratio 1:3 mix with an addition of 1.5% latex,
the corresponding modified cubes strength are 27.42N/mm2, 29.43N/mm2,
30.09N/mm2, and 33.77N/mm2. thereby depicting increase in strengths of
51.8%, 25.7%, 20.0% and 36.5% respectively. Much higher strength increase
were observed from the cubes of the ration 1:6 mix.
The increases in the strength values between the non modified and the
modified cubes were as a results of the protection qualities of the modified
agent.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Postgraduate School, in Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
(Civil Engineering Structures). In the Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Nigeria
August 1998
Keywords
CEMENT,, MORTAR,, IMPROVEMENT,, RUBBER,, LATEX,, ADDITIVE