Heavy aggregate and different admixtures effect on pavings: pyrite, corundum and water-retaining polymer

Abstract

Concrete pavings are widely used in the construction industry as flooring for decorative and structural purposes in the gardens, parks, and roads of America, and Europe. In the present study, the effects of pyrite, corundum, and water-retaining polymer additives on the surface wear resistance of concrete pavings were investigated. Concrete pavings were poured in 2 stages and all of the bottom layers of samples were the same, but upper layers of pavings were produced by adding pyrite in the ratio of 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 according to the mass of the aggregate, 5 kg /m2 corundum-based surface hardener to the paving surface area, and a high amount of water-absorbing polymer at a ratio of 0.05 and 0.10 to the water content of the mixture. Vertical abrasion, splitting tensile strength, water absorption, freeze-thaw resistance, pendulum footed friction, and surface hardness measurements with Schmidt test hammer experiments were made to TS 2824 EN 1338 standard. Also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses were carried out to characterize the produced materials. Results of the study indicate that the use of pyrite, corundum, and water-retaining polymers provided improvements in the surface wear resistance of concrete pavings.