Preliminary Analysis Of Concept Of Producing Polymer Concrete Surface For Outdoor Terraces

The aim of this study is to assess the possibility of using an innovative two-layer polymer concrete system as a complete outdoor terrace surface. The work is a preliminary technical study. For the purpose of the work, two samples differing in aggregate used were produced. One of them was filled with a mixture of gravel (coarse grain) and sand (fine grain) aggregate, the other was filled only with gravel (coarse grain) aggregate. The assessment methodology was based on simple tests of selected basic functional characteristics, which were load resistance, abrasion resistance, water absorption, and resistance to dirt. The obtained results of the evaluation of the produced materials indicate that the concept of using a two-layer polymer concrete system as an external surface is good - the material shows satisfactory behavior both in terms of static and frictional loading, and in terms of water drainage. Polymer concrete with coarse grained aggregate is visually attractive after application, but also susceptible to dirt, which is difficult to remove by simple methods. Hence, it is are difficult to keep clean and aesthetic. Polymer concrete with aggregate containing a fine fraction is easier to keep clean and aesthetic, but it is not as visually attractive as the concrete filled only with the coarser grained aggregate. The applied additional resin protective coating significantly improves the effectiveness of removing dirt from the surface. However, for a coarse-grained surface, the improvement in cleaning performance is probably insufficient. According to the two-layer concept, polymer concrete is an attractive and real alternative material for outdoor terraces. The potential proposal of a two-layer polymer concrete as a terrace surface requires a number of further development works, mainly in terms of the optimization of aesthetics, cleanability and analysis of the issue of water absorption and water freezing inside the material structure.