The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) investigated a polymer concrete (PC) patching material in cooperation with the Brookhaven National Laboratories (BNL) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This material has been previously tested by other states throughout the country. The material is claimed to be a rapid curing, durable material for patching potholes and deteriorated cracks in Portland cement concrete pavements and bridge decks.
Previous field tests of PC materials have been small in scope and size. The problems associated with the material were the tendency of the monomer to drain from the system, the development of shrinkage cracks in the polymerized material, and the need for a knowledge of chemistry to mix the monomer system. The BNL material is supposed to correct these drawbacks.
Mn/DOT made a laboratory study of the PC material by producing a control mix of portland cement, low-slump concrete to evaluate how PC material compares to the low-slump concrete with respect to:
- freeze thaw durability,
- compressive strength,
- tensile splitting strength; and
- chloride permeability.
Shear bond strength tests of the PC material are being conducted by the BNL. Field evaluation of the PC material has proven to be inconclusive. Patches failed in both the concrete pavement and the bridge deck. The bridge deck patches had to be removed completely. These failures are not due to the PC material itself.
