Mechanical and Durability Properties of Rubberized Sulfur Concrete Using Waste Tire Crumb Rubber

The use of rubber crumbs provides a viable solution for alleviating the disposal problem of waste tires. In this study, rubberized sulfur concrete (RSC) was researched to investigate the optimal mixture proportion and to improve the mixing process in terms of compressive strength and durability performance. For the mixture of the RSC, sand, rubber particles, and micro-filler were adopted as aggregates and sulfur was used for the binding material. Moreover, two mixing processes were applied: the dry mixing process and the wet mixing process. Based on the test results, the increment of rubber particles in the mixture led to a decrease in the compressive strength for both the dry and wet mixing processes. To minimize the voids between the sand and rubber particles, the micro-filler was used at 5% of the total volume. The amount of sulfur varied slightly depending on the mixing process: 30% sulfur for the dry mixing process and 34% sulfur for the wet mixing process, respectively. Consequently, compared to the dry mixing process, the wet mixing process increased the bonding force between sulfur and rubber powder due to the simultaneous heating and combining. In toughness, the wet mixing process demonstrates a 40% higher energy absorption capability compared to the dry mixing process. For the durability performance of the RSC, the mixture with 20% rubber particles produced using the wet mixing process exhibited better corrosion and freeze-thaw resistance.