FEASIBILITY OF PLASMA TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION IN CONCRETE INDUSTRY

Kasra Shafiei, Bernd Hillemeier

Abstract: Concrete technology is growing in different directions as various sciences are feeding this industry regarding the huge demand for concrete each day all around the world. In spite of this fact there is a lack of research in the field of plasma technology and its possible usages in the concrete. Plasma technology as a relatively recent achievement of mankind has many applications in different industries and one of its main utilizations is the surface modification of materials and specially polymers with changing the wettability and adhesion properties. In this research, the main endeavor is to study the possibility of plasma surface modification in concrete mainly within 2 concepts; first to enhance the adhesion of cement paste to the aggregates to improve the interfacial transition zone and thus improving the concrete properties such as compressive strength and impermeability. This concept is followed by measuring the compressive strength and porosity of the concrete samples, which are made with and without plasma treatment. The second concept is to change the wettability of the release agent materials on the surface of the mold to enhance the final surface of the concrete after demolding. This part is done by comparing the visual observations of fresh cement slurry and hardened cement paste on the surface of different release agents before and after treating with plasma.

Keywords: Plasma, Corona Discharge Treatment, Cement Matrix, Adhesion, Wettability, Release Agent, Concrete Final Surface, Compressive Strength, Porosity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0325011