The effect of vehicle waste tires on the mechanical, hardness and stress-strain properties of polyester-based polymer concretes

Polymers, exclusively epoxy and polyester resins, can be used as a binder in fresh concrete as well as in the repair and strengthening of hardened concrete in the construction sector. On the other hand, waste vehicle tires are a global environmental problem due to reasons such as releasing toxic chemicals to nature, not being biodegradable. The recycling of waste tires will prevent any potential harmful effects on the ecosystem. In this study; the effect of vehicle waste tires on the mechanical, hardness and stress-strain properties of polyester-based polymer concretes has been investigated. In polymer concrete mixtures, the polyester resin/ filling material ratio is selected as 15-85%, 20-80%, 25-75%. Waste tire with the diameters of 0-1 mm and 0-4 mm used by replacing the natural aggregates of the same diameters at the rates of 0%, 5%, 12.5%, 20%. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), Schmidt rebound hammer number, stress-strain behavior, and compressive strength tests were evaluated. As a result, as the waste tire ratio increases, the strength decreases, however, ductility increased at low resin ratios. When the Schmidt rebound hammer number and the compressive strength results are related, there is a similarity of 96.07% in the regression line and polymer concrete gives better results than normal concrete. Furthermore, the use of 0-4 mm sieve diameter tire gives higher strength than 0-1 mm. It is more advantageous as the recycling cost of 0-4 mm diameter tires is lower than 0-1 mm due to the energy consumed during the disintegration.