Immobilization of borate waste simulate in cement-water extended polyester composite based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste

Modified composite from water extended polyester (WEP); based on the recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate), (PET), and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is a candidate matrix for processing borate waste solutions originating from the primary coolant circuit of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). This part of the work discusses the frost resistance of this polymer-modified cement composite (PCC) during the disposal course. Frost resistance is assessed for the candidate PCC after 115 cycles of freezing and thawing treatment (FTC) by evaluating their durability index, compressive strength, apparent porosity, volume of open pores, water absorption, and bulk density. Infrared (IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) as non-destructive analyses were performed for the candidate PCC before and after the freezing/thawing treatment to follow the changes that may take place during the hydration regime. The results obtained indicate that the candidate-modified cement composite exhibits acceptable resistance to freezing and thawing treatment even at very exaggerating conditions (-19 degrees C and +60 degrees C).