Accelerated Alkaline Attack of 3D Printing Polymers to Assess Their Durability in Geopolymer-Based Matrices
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 11
Abstract
Geopolymers exhibit high mechanical performance and low emissions, and have garnered interest in the construction sector. The brittleness of geopolymer matrices has led to a demand for materials to reinforce them and make them suitable for applications involving tensile or dynamic loading, such as reinforcements produced with 3D printing. However, the durability of polymers currently used in 3D printing in geopolymer matrices is unknown. The properties of polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)-glycol (PETG), when immersed in an alkaline solution that simulates the pore water of geopolymer matrices, were assessed with weight monitoring, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and direct tensile tests. The results showed that new carbonyl compounds are formed in the extension of the polymeric chains, which could be associated with the oxidation of the chains. PLA presented a weight loss of 35.83% and a decrease in tensile strength of 45.62%. PETG showed no significant changes in properties, indicating its good durability in geopolymer matrices.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Bahia Research Foundation (FAPESB), National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (Brazil) (CNPq), Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES), Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil) (PPEC/UFBA), and the collaboration of researcher João Paulo de Oliveira (PROPCI/UFBA 01/2018 PIBIC).
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 11 • November 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2020
Accepted: Mar 30, 2021
Published online: Sep 13, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Feb 13, 2022
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