Physico-mechanical properties and water absorption of cement composite containing shredded rubber wastes

Abstract The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential utilisation of rubber waste in cementitious matrix, as fine aggregates, to develop lightweight construction materials. Composites containing different amounts of rubber particles, as partial replacement to cement by volume, were characterised by destructive and non-destructive testing. Five designated rubber contents varying from 10% to 50% by volume were used. The 28-days physical, mechanical and hydraulic transport properties of the cement composite were determined. Analyses included dry unit weight, elastic dynamic modulus, compressive and flexural strengths, strain capacity, and water absorption. Test results of the physico-mechanical behaviour indicated that the increase in rubber content decreases the sample unit weight with a large reduction in the strengths and elastic modulus values of the composites. Results have only shown that the introduction of rubber particles significantly increases the strain capacity of the materials. However, rubbers into cement paste enhances the toughness of the composite. Although the mechanical strengths were reduced, the composite containing 50% of rubber particles satisfies the basic requirement of lightweight construction materials and corresponds to “class II”, according to the RILEM classification. Test-results of the hydraulic transport properties revealed that the addition of rubber particles tends to restrict water propagation in the cement matrix and reduces water absorption of the composite. The decrease of the sorptivity-value is favourable to the durability of the specimen structures.