Can polymers replace cement in construction?

Factual Questions
1

i mean to be used much like cement:

  1. you mix in various stone particles and use it to bond bricks or stone into non-load or semi-load bearing walls and butresses.

  2. mix with different rock aggregates to be poured as either pre- or post-stressed load-bearing structures

  3. mix with aggregates for horizontal structures like roads, bridges, culverts, rip-raps, retaining walls, etc.

aside from acceptable integrity, it of course has be viable as a replacement to cement cost-wise. in mining, i know that some setting polymers have replaced concrete in filling mined-out stopes (cement filling could be very expensive.)

2

There’s no way you’re going to compete on price.
Epoxies are used in construction, but only in small quantities, due to the expense.

3

engineered stone countertops are are current application.
Silestone, CaesarStone, Quartz countertops are examples,
Google engineered stone.

I am told that these materials are 99% actual stone with a polymer binder. The advantage is in manufacturing. You can mix up a batch any time you need more raw materials. The stone slabs are then cut and polished for end use as would granite.
They tend to be more expensive than granite, but the finishing, installation, and shipping costs are such a high fraction of the cost that I suspect the cost of the polymers are rounding error.

4

I would think you’d have trouble matching the compression strength of Portland cement-based concrete.

5

I have seen a mortar for brick work repair and fake fireplaces that was a synthetic mixed with sand and a coloring.

6

hey, engineered stone! i didn’t think of that. but these, just like the examples in the previoust post, are basically surfacing and finish materials, not structural.

7

Really. Polymers are long-chain molecules that contain volatile organics which will outgas over time (think about how vinyl dashes become so brittle that a finger tap can crack them) heat exacerbates this. The only places I’ve heard that use polymers in concrete are above the arctic circle. I used to work for a nylon manufacturer and ALL plastics we made had a ‘volatile organic’ component.

Plastics only last for awhile. Concrete lasts a lot longer.

8

There were companies around here that topped old driveways with an epoxy/aggregate mix. May neighbor had her driveway done. It looked very nice, but started coming apart after two seasons. I don’t see that type of treatment advertised anymore.

9

Not exactly a polymer (I don’t think) but the building right across the street from the Sears Tower is made of a water-free concrete. They used silicone instead, vastly increasing the strength and resilience. From what I remember of the article, the absence of water meant that the concrete would not form the tiny fissures that appear was the water evaporates as the concrete cures.

10

There are a wide variety of plastics. I have no doubt there are suitable materials. They are also expensive relative to concrete.

11

I’ve seen designs of composite material buildings and bridges, but I’ve never heard of one actually being built as I’m sure the costs are astronomical. It makes sense in aviation for the weight and fuel efficiency savings, but there’s not much need to reduce the weight of a house, for example. Still, they make for interesting design concepts.