Modification of concrete mortar using polyurethane resin

This paper presents an experimental investigation carried out to study the effects of non-water soluble Polyurethane Resin used in the modification of concrete mortar. The non-water soluble Polyurethane Resin (PU) was obtained from Fursa Industry and Tech Limited. The non-water soluble PU was used for this study do to its availability and low cost. Additives such as; Sulphur and Calcium Oxide responsible for binding and curing were used. Concrete mortar cubes of 50 x 50 x 50 mm respectively were produced with grade 42.5 Ordinary Portland Cement from Dangote Cement Limited. The ordinary Portland Cement was partially replaced with 0% (control), 15%, 25% and 35% non-water soluble Polyurethane Resin respectively. The influence of partial replacing Ordinary Portland Cement with non-water soluble Polyurethane was checked by testing the concrete mortar cubes for compressive strength testat7, 14 and 28 days respectively after casting and curing. It was observed that the addition of Polyurethane Resin as OPC partial replacement leads to considerable increase in compressive strength at 25% and 35% in comparison to the compressive strength of the control sample. The improvement in compressive strength was not significant beyond 35% Polyurethane replacement of OPC and was there accepted as the optimum percentage replacement