Use of Thermoplastic Polymer in Mortar Composites to Improve Its Chloride Penetration Resistance

This paper presents a study of the resistance to chloride penetration of blended Portland cement mortar containing thermoplastic waste polymer polyethylene terephthalate (TWPET). Composite TWPET-mortars are often presented as the materials of the future in reason of their potential for innovation and advantages that offer. In fact, the use of TWPET percentages as a cement substitution reduces energy costs; address problems related to environmental pollution by CO2 emissions and repairs various reinforced concrete structures. Blended Portland cement (CPJ) is partially replaced with TWPET at the amounts of 2%, 4% and 6% by weight of cementitious materials. Chloride penetration depth of full and partial immersions in 3% NaCl solution, rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT) after 28, 90 and 120 days, sorptivity, leaching test and flexural strength of thermoplastic-mortar composites (TMCs) were determined. Test results reveal that the resistance to chloride penetration of TMCs improves substantially with partial replacement of CPJ with TWPET and without significantly affecting the flexural strength in tap water. The chemical resistance is higher with an increase in the replacement level. So, sorptivity, the chloride ion penetration depth, apparent chloride ion diffusion coefficient, the total charge passed in coulombs and leached depth measurements of the TMCs are much smaller than those of reference mortar. The formations which appear such as different calcium salts were determined by X-ray diffraction. These results take into account the use of waste plastics in the manufacture of mortars modified which can be both recommended for preventing the chloride-induced corrosion of the steel in various reinforced concrete structures and participate greatly in the environment preservation.