Abstract
Thermo-setting resins such as polyesters and epoxies possess Characteristics which make them suitable for use in the construction industry. Generally speaking, advantage has been taken of their unique physical properties only for repair works, jointing purposes and for use as adhesives. A disadvantage associated with resin compositions is their low modulus of elasticity and the principal object of this investigation was to attempt to improve the elastic properties of a thermo-setting resin by the addition of fillers and by the use of fibre reinforcement. If this could be achieved and, simultaneously, produce a material having a compressive strength at least equal to that of Portland cement concrete but with improved flexural strength so that steel reinforcement could be omitted, such a material could be a useful addition to those already used for construction purposes. In the preliminary stages of the investigation, efforts were made to develop mixing techniques and to determine the elastic properties of various resin mortar mixes. Carbon and, as an alternative, asbestos fibres were added to these mixes to ascertain whether the elastic properties could be substantially improved. In the main investigation, various mixes of resin concrete were considered and, for a specific mix, the optimum quantity of resin composition was determined in order to obtain the maximum compressive strength; for this particular mix, tests were carried out to ascertain the flexural strength, modulus of elasticity and, as a supplementary study, the curing period before full strength was developed. Tests were also made on this mix to examine the creep characteristics. Finally, a re-examination of the results for specific mixes in terms of the elastic properties and volumetric fractions of the constituent materials suggests that the modulus of elasticity of resin concrete can be predicted but, for confirmation, more extensive studies are necessary.