The chemical and microstructural analysis of the adhesive properties of epoxy resin coatings modified using waste glass powder

The article presents the results of tests of epoxy resin coatings modified with the addition of waste glass powder. Pull-off strength tests were performed for ground and patch grabbed cementitious substrates. The results showed that the addition of 19.4% of glass powder in the epoxy resin caused an increase of its pull-off strength. A larger amount of glass powder addition increases the density of the epoxy resin coating to a degree that reduces the positive effect of the additive on pull-off strength and makes it difficult to obtain a smooth coating surface. Finally, to confirm the obtained macroscopic results, the samples were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructural tests, including analysis of the chemical composition and porosity within the interphase between the epoxy resin and substrate. The SEM results confirmed the optimum performance of the sample that had the addition of 19.4% of glass powder in the epoxy resin. For this sample, the porosity was lower than for the reference sample without the addition of waste glass powder. According to the authors, the addition of waste glass powder ensures sufficient pull-off strength without the use of to the mechanical treatment of the substrate and bonding agents.