Application of Sulphur Infiltrated concrete

Sulphur - Inflitrated Concrete

New types of composites have been produced by the recently developed techniques of impregnating porous materials like concrete with sulphur. Sulphur impregnation has shown great improvement in strength. Physical properties have been found to improve by several hundred per cent and large improvements in water impermeability and resistance to corrosion gave also been achieved.

In the past, some attempts have been made to use sulphur as a binding material instead of cement. Sulphur is heated to bring it not molten condition to which condition to which coarse and fine aggregates are poured and mixed together

. On cooling, this mixture gave fairly good strength, exhibited acid resistance and also other chemical resistance, but it proved to be costlier than ordinary cement concrete.

Recently, use of sulphur was made to impregnate lean porous concrete to improve its strength and other useful properties considerably. In this method, the quantity of sulphur used is also comparatively less and thereby the processes is made economical. It is reported that compressive strength of about 100 MPa could be achieved in about 2 days time. The following procedures have been reported in making sulphur-infiltrated concrete.

Application of Sulphur - Infiltrated concrete

The sulphur-infiltration can be employed in the precast industry. This method of achieving high strength can be used in the manufacture of pre-cast roofing elements, fencing posts. Sewer pipes, and railway sleepers, sulphur-infiltrated concrete should find considerable use in industrial situations. Where high corrosion resistant concrete is required. This method cannot be conveniently applied to cats-in place concrete.

Preliminary studies have indicated that sulphur-infiltrated precast concrete units are cheaper than commercial concrete. The added cost of sulphur and process should be offset by considerable savings in concrete.

The techniques are simple, effective and inexpensive. The tremendous strength gained in pressure application, where in immersion accompanied by evacuation may also offset the extra cost. The attainment of strength in about two days time makes this process all the more attractive.