Author(s)

N. Quaranta, M. Caligaris, H. López & M. Regondi

Abstract

In the present work, the characteristics of different cement based floors with the addition of a great amount of granular rubber, 16% in volume approximately, are studied. During the three years that the experience went on, the samples were subjected to temperatures conditions varying between 43 °C and -2°C, to several episodes of strong wind and intense rain and to continuous crossing. The samples were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron diffraction analysis X-ray (EDAX), porosity and Vickers microhardness measurements. The obtained results set up this application as an important tool for using this waste material which is nowadays disposed in landfills in Argentina. Keywords: cement floor, rubber, scrap tires. 1 Introduction The objective of reusing the rubber from scrap tires is to avoid the serious problem that its accumulation produces. These wastes occupy much space in the landfill in which they are disposed. The rubber dust is used in several applications such as sports field drainage, race courses, road pavement improvement, among others. There exists a great advance in using rubber for plastic material products such as shoe soles, coating plates, and accessories for the automobile industry, but it is usually needed a grinding process and the removal of components as cloth or metal that comes from tire talons, increasing the costs of final products. Mixing rubber with bitumen and asphalt filling is other important application [1, 2]. In this way, it can be used as binding material or as sealer layer in which case it is called asphalt rubber, or simply as a filling material, without interacting

Keywords

cement floor, rubber, scrap tires.