Durability Performance of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Modified with Styrene–Butadiene Rubber and Natural Rubber Latex under Sulfate Exposure
摘要
This study presents a comparative experimental investigation on steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) modified with styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) and natural rubber latex (NRL), focusing on workability, compressive strength development, and early-stage sulfate resistance. While SFRC is widely used in structural applications due to its improved strength and crack resistance, its durability under aggressive chemical environments, particularly sulfate exposure, remains a concern. Sulfate ingress can cause chemical degradation, expansion, and loss of structural capacity, leading to premature failure. Although SBR has been shown to improve concrete durability, NRL has emerged as a more sustainable alternative; however, direct comparisons of their effectiveness in mitigating sulfate-induced degradation in SFRC have not been sufficiently investigated. In this research, concrete mixes containing 1% hooked-end steel fibers were prepared with 0%, 2.5%, and 5% of SBR and NRL by cement weight. Workability was evaluated using slump tests, compressive strength was measured at 7 and 28 days, and durability performance was assessed through residual compressive strength after immersion in a 5% sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solution for 42 and 56 days. The results show that NRL significantly improved workability, while SBR produced higher compressive strength, achieving a maximum of 120.5 MPa at 28 days for the 5% SBR mix. All latex-modified SFRC mixes exhibited improved sulfate resistance compared to the control, with strength losses remaining below 8% after 56 days of exposure. Notably, the 5% NRL mix showed the lowest degradation, with only 0.75% strength loss. These findings demonstrate that both SBR and NRL effectively reduce sulfate-induced degradation in SFRC, with NRL providing a viable and sustainable alternative for strategies aimed at limiting durability-related failure in concrete structures.