Effects of pre-treatment using waste quarry dust on the adherence of recycled tyre rubber particles to cementitious paste in rubberised concrete

Abstract

This research is focused on improving the mechanical response of rubberised concrete, with the objective of enhancing its weak Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ). Pre-treatment of recycled tyre rubber particles by another material that is otherwise considered as waste, Waste Quarry Dust (WQD), diminished the hydrophobicity of rubber and subsequently eliminated excessive fluid repelling during mixing, key in reducing the gaps observed at the interface via SEM imaging. The pre-treatment consequently allowed for improved compressive strength; results indicate an increase of 282% and 276% in the 7 and 28-day compressive strength, respectively, for the selected rubberised concrete mixture.