Replacing Fine Aggregate with Tire Rubber Pre-Treated In Sodium Hydroxide

Abstract

There is lack of appropriate discarding of tire rubbers in many countries around the world and this has greatly affected the environment. Many tires are left in damp sites and later pile up causing landfills. The tires are usually burnt and this causes them to release a lot of gases like carbon monoxide leading to air pollution. Apart from that the damp sites cause a breeding site for mosquitoes and rats that can spread diseases to the people in the community. One of the ways in which the tires can be disposed of without destroying the environment can be using them in the partial replacement of aggregate in concrete. Previous researchers have shown that rubber tire aggregate can be added to concrete for structural constructions mainly for rigid pavements. Other uses include partition walls, concrete blocks for architectural applications, culverts, sidewalks, driveways and some road construction applications. This paper studies different volumes of crumb rubber (0%,5%,10%,15% and 20%) being partially replaced as fine aggregate. It investigates how using crumb rubber that is pre-treated with sodium hydroxide (NAOH) in concrete will be able to minimize the loss of flexural, compressive and split tensile strength tests as well as improve the bond between crumb rubbers and cement paste. Different experiments will be carried out to hardened properties of rubberized concrete.