Use of industrial waste materials in developing durable polymer concrete

Polymer modified cement concrete (PMC) or polymer concrete (PC) is a concrete in which polymers are introduced as a constituent material either as an aqueous emulsion or in the dispersed form to improve the properties of concrete. The end result will be improved compressive, tensile, impact, and bond strength. It also results in extremely impervious concrete, thereby significantly increasing the useful servicelife of a structure. The polymer modified concrete can be widely used in the repair and rehabilitation of old damaged concrete. Being corrosion resistant with low permeability, it can to be used in swimming pools, sewer systems, etc. It can also be used as a wearing course in asphalt pavements imparting smooth surface and better bonding characteristics with the substrate. Due to its high durability and wear characteristics, PMC can significantly contribute to the sustainable development of the construction industry. The rapid increase in industrialization in the world is a major cause of industrial pollution as it leads to accumulation of millions of tons of waste materials and emissions thereby threatening the existence of the planet we live in. Industrial wastes in Saudi Arabia come from steel and cement plants, aluminum smelting, electric power generation, petroleum, and other industries. Vast quantities of these wastes ranging from dust particles to plastics, are on the rise in the Kingdom. Therefore there is an urgent need to solve the environmental-related problem of disposal of industrial waste materials. Their utilization in the development of sustainable construction materials is one of the favored options.