Evaluation the chemical and mechanical properties of EVA modified concrete

In this study, EVA is added to improve the mechanical and chemical properties of concrete. The concrete mixtures were modified with 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, and 20wt% of EVA. The chemical constituents of the mixture were measured by XRF. The surface morphology of modified mixtures was also scanned by SEM. The chemical reaction between EVA and cement was verified by FTIR analysis. Setting time and water content were conducted at various temperatures (25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, and 40 degrees C). The physical properties of concrete mixtures such as compressive, flexural and tensile strength were evaluated at the curing age of 3, 7 and 28 days. It was found that the setting time was increasing with an increase in the EVA percentage. The results revealed that the compressive and flexural strength of EVA-modified concrete tended to increase at a rapid rate by incorporating EVA up to 15%, but beyond this percentage the rate of strength development become slow at all the ages.