CONCLUDING REMARKS
Two new polymer concrete based materials were developed using industrial wastes. These materials were used to form the
basis of a novel construction system. Circular disc specimens of these materials were manufactured in the laboratory so that
9DBMC-2002 Paper 101 Page 7
accelerated weathering and strength tests could be conducted to assess their durability characteristics. Preliminary tests indicate
that sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide significantly affect the tensile strength of these materials and reduce their durability.
However, other normally occurring agents such as sodium sulphate and sodium chloride, do not adversely affect these
materials. Further investigations are being carried out and will be reported in the future.
6 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors acknowledge the sponsorship provided by the Strongwall International Ltd to carry out this work.
7 REFERENCES
1. Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 4456:10:1997, Masonry Units and Segmental Pavers – Methods of Test,
1997.
2. Griffiths, R.& Ball, A. 2000, ‘An Assessment of the Properties and Degradation Behaviour of Glass-Fibre Reinforced
Polyester Polymer Concrete’, Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 60, Issue: 14, pp 2747-2753.
3. Bignozzi, M.C., Saccani, A. & Sandrolini, F. 2000 ‘New polymer mortars containing polymeric wastes, Part 1.
Microstructure and mechanical properties’, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing’, Vol. 31, pp 97-
