摘要：

In recent years, the use of polymer concrete have become a promising choice in outdoor applications such as repair concrete structures, beams and slabs of small cross section and coating of railway sleepers, is subjected to degradation caused by photochemical reactions from solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Any small damage in polymer matrix can be detrimental to the overall mechanical performance of the structure as it binds and transfers load to the reinforcement. This paper deals with the effect of UV radiation on the physical and mechanical properties of epoxy resin based polymer matrix. Seven different mixes containing filler materials from 0 to 60% with an increment of 10% were exposed to UV radiation using accelerated laboratory testing. Specimens were subjected to 2000 hours of UV radiation by Xenon 2200 watt air cooled lamp in the sunset XLS chamber and subsequently weighed, examined by microscope and mechanically tested. Surface degradation in the form of discoloration were observed by microscopic observation. It was found that, the loss of specimen鈥檚 weight decreased with the increase of filler materials in the mix. Significant decrease of flexural strength were observed in the mixes containing filler volume up to 20%. However, no reduction of flexural strength were noticed for the higher filler (鈮30% filler) containing mixes indicating the filler can helps to preserve the structural performance by absorbing or blocking UV radiation before it reaching the chromophores in polymer matrix.

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