Analysis of shrinkage and creep behaviors in polymer-coated lightweight concretes

The creep and shrinkage properties of polymer-coated lightweight concretes were examined. Five-hundred-dose lightweight concretes were produced by coating pumice aggregates with three different polymers (Sonomeric1: SNMC, KB Pur 214: KBP, and Polipol3455: PLP). The 3-, 7-, and 28-day compressive strength values of the obtained lightweight concrete samples were determined, and the 840-h and 12-month creep and shrinkage deformations were measured. It was found that the ductility of the SNMC- and KBP-coated concrete samples increased, while their shrinkage deformation results decreased when compared with the control samples. In contrast, the ductility of PLP concrete samples decreased and the shrinkage deformation became higher. In conclusion, the use of SNMC- and KBP-coated pumice aggregates had a positive effect on the creep and shrinkage properties of the concrete. Furthermore, it was observed that the compressive strength values of the lightweight concretes made of the coated samples were higher than those of the control sample.