The Effect of Texturing of the Surface of Concrete Substrate on the Pull-Off Strength of Epoxy Resin Coating

This paper describes a study conducted to evaluate the effect of texturing of the surface of concrete substrate on the pull-off strength (fb) of epoxy resin coating. The paper investigates a total of seventeen types of textures: after grooving, imprinting, patch grabbing and brushing. The texture of the surface of the concrete substrate was prepared during the first 15 min after pouring fresh concrete into molds. The epoxy resin coating was laid after 28 days on hardened concrete substrates. To investigate the pull-off strength of the epoxy resin coating to the concrete substrate, the pull-off method was used. The results were compared with the results obtained for a sample prepared by grinding, normative minimal pull-off strength values and the values declared by the manufacturer. During this study twelve out of fifteen tested samples achieved a pull-off strength higher than 1.50 MPa. It was found that one of the imprinting texturing methods was especially beneficial

Ultrasonic Evaluation of Cement-Based Building Materials Modified Using Marble Powder Sourced from Industrial Wastes

This paper presents an experimental study on the assessment of the cement-based materials properties made with marble powder (MP) at different replacement ratios (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) of cement by using the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test. The used MP has a Blaine fineness similar to that of Portland cement. The physical and the chemical characteristics of Portland cement and MP were determined. To determine the UPV values, cubic specimens (50 × 50 × 50 mm3) of cement paste and mortar were prepared and cured either in air at a temperature equal to 22 ± 2 °C and relative humidity equal to 20 ± 1%, or in water at a temperature equal to 20 ± 1 °C. The experimental tests including the UPV, the compressive strength (fcd), and the apparent density (ϒad) were conducted at 3, 7, 28, and 65 days, the relationship between each of these parameters were presented. Additionally, economic performance of cement and waste MP used in this study was performed. The results show that the use of MP as partial replacement of cement causes a decrease in the compressive strength and apparent density in both curing conditions. In addition, the results show a good relationship between the destructive test and non-destructive test adopted by UPV

Attempts to Improve the Subsurface Properties of Horizontally-Formed Cementitious Composites Using Tin(II) Fluoride Nanoparticles

This article presents studies that were performed in order to improve the subsurface properties of horizontally-formed cementitious composites using tin(II) fluoride nanoparticles. The main aim of the study was to solve the problem of the decrease in subsurface properties caused by mortar bleeding and the segregation of the aggregate along the height of the overlay. The article also aims to highlight the patch grabbing difficulties that occur during the process of forming horizontally-formed cementitious composites. Four specimens were analyzed: one reference sample and three samples modified with the addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of tin(II) fluoride nanoparticles in relation to the cement mass. To analyze the mechanical properties of the specimens, non-destructive (ultrasonic pulse velocity) and destructive tests (flexural tensile strength, compressive strength, abrasion resistance, pull-off strength) were performed. It was indicated that due to the addition of the tin(II) fluoride, it was possible to enhance the subsurface tensile strength and abrasion resistance of the tested cementitious composites. To confirm the obtained macroscopic results, the porosity of the subsurface was measured using SEM. It was also shown that the addition of the tin(II) fluoride nanoparticles did not reduce its flexural and compressive strength. The results show that horizontally-formed cementitious composites with the addition of 1.0% of tin(II) fluoride nanoparticles in relation to the cement mass obtained the most effective mechanical performance, especially with regard to subsurface properties