Strength Properties of Bisphenol A-Type Epoxy-Modified Mortars under Various Curing Conditions

각종 양생조건에 따른 비스페놀 A형 에폭시수지 혼입 모르타르의 강도성상

The epoxy resin without hardener can harden by a ring-opening reaction in the presence of the alkalies produced by the hydration of cement in epoxy-modified mortars and concretes. This paper investigates the effect of curing conditions on the strength improvement of polymer-modified mortars using bisphenol A-type epoxy resin without hardener. The polymer-modified mortars using epoxy resin are prepared with various polymer-cement ratios, and subjected to ideal, water, dry and heat cures. In the heat cure, the epoxy-modified mortars are sealed or unsealed with a PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) film. The epoxy-modified mortars are tested for flexural and compressive strengths at desired curing methods. The microstructures of the epoxy-modified mortars are also observed by scanning electron microscope. The effects of curing conditions on the strength development of the epoxy-modified mortars are examined. From the test results, the marked effectiveness of the heat cure under the PVDC film sealing against the development of the strength of the epoxy-modified mortar without the hardener is recognized. The flexural and compressive strengths of 7-day-90℃ heat-cured, PVDC film-sealed epoxy-modified mortars without hardener reach 7 to 17MPa and 24 to 44MPa respectively, and are two to three times of Unmodified mortar. Such high strength development of the epoxy-modified mortars may be achieved by the dense microstructure formation by cement hydrates and the hardening of the epoxy resin in the mortars.