Effect of natural rubber latex on the shrinkage behavior and porosity of geopolymer concrete
Badrinarayan Rath
Abstract
Abstract Shrinkage‐reducing admixture has been proved as the best solution to reduce the shrinkage cracks on the surface of the concrete. Various shrinkage‐reducing admixtures available in the local market are chemical, highly hazardous, and limited use in concrete. In the present research, rubber latex was used by replacing water up to 2% in geopolymer concrete. Volumetric shrinkage for geopolymer concrete with different doses of rubber latex was determined and compared those results with traditional cement concrete of the same mix. The relation between volumetric shrinkage and porosity of concrete was studied at a deep level. It was found that a large number of micropores of concrete were reduced by using 2% of rubber latex resulting in decrease in shrinkage significantly. By using rubber latex in concrete, a hazardous expensive chemical shrinkage‐reducing admixture can be replaced by a low‐cost nonhazardous organic substance.