Effects of spheroid and fiber-like waste-tire rubbers on interrelation of strength-to-porosity in rubberized cement and mortars

Abstract The waste tire rubber represents a serious pollution and waste disposal problem. The aim of this experimental investigation is focused on the interrelation of strength/porosity in the rubberized cement and mortars as a function of distinctive rubber morphologies. Experimental results show the interrelation of flexural (FS), compressive (CS) and specific (SS) strengths with porosity ( P ) and water absorption (WA) of the control and four distinctive rubberized cement pastes and mortars. It is found that the fiber-like rubber particles provide distinctive both the slump flow tendency and mechanical behavior. A bimodal distribution of the pore sizing between irregular and spheroidal morphologies is observed. Models of the compressive, flexural and specific strengths as a function of both the rubber content and porosity are also proposed. When a 5% (volume) of sand is replaced with rubber particles, a number of alternative applications (e.g. flexible pavement, building facades and water purification systems) can be induced.