Investigation and Mechanism Analysis on Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Modified Crumb Rubber Mortar

Abstract

This study systematically investigates the influence of rubber particle content and water-cement ratio on the performance of cement mortar. Through rheological testing, mechanical property evaluation, and microstructural characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), it was found that at a 5% volumetric replacement of rubber particles, the mortar maintains favorable workability, with 28-day compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths increased by 5.6%, 7.7%, and 26.1%, respectively, relative to the control group. However, excessive incorporation (>10%) results in a 121% increase in initial yield stress and a 43% rise in viscosity, accompanied by interfacial debonding and elevated porosity, leading to a significant deterioration in mechanical performance. Microstructural analysis confirms that enhanced surface hydrophilicity of modified rubber particles improves the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) structure, thereby enhancing material toughness. This study highlights the critical role of rubber-cement interface optimization in the toughening mechanism of cementitious composites, providing a theoretical foundation for practical engineering applications.

Keywords

modified rubber / mechanical performance / rheological properties / interfacial transition zone / mechanism analysis

References

[1] Hong G X. Recycling and Processing of Waste Tyres into Renewable Rubber Powder is Green Initiative in the Future[J]. China Tire Resources Recycling, 2018(05): 43–48

[2] Peng CVigorously Develop Circular Economy and Promote the Construction of Ecological Cities and Circular Societies[J]. Intelligent City, 2018, 4(24): 24-25

[3] Deng B C. The Enlightenment of Japan’s Circular Economy Development to China under the Legal System of Circular Economy[J]. Shanghai Business, 2022(03): 180–182

[4] Wang B M, Guo Z Q, Han YThe Research Progress of Rubberized Concrete on the Shrinkage and Cracking Property[J]. Low Temperature Architecture Technology, 2012, 34(02): 4-6

[5] Mendis A S, Al-Deen S, Ashraf MBehaviour of Similar Strength Crumbed Rubber Concrete (CRC) Mixes With Different Mix Proportions[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2017, 137: 354-366.

[6] Mendis A S, Al-Deen S, Ashraf MEffect of Rubber Particles on the Flexural Behaviour of Reinforced Crumbed Rubber Concrete Beams [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2017, 154: 644-657.

[7] Flores M D, Carolina H M, Flores M N, et al.Durability of Rubberized Concrete with Recycled Steel Fibers from Tyre Recycling in Aggressive Environments[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 400: 132 619.

[8] Ajoku C A, Turatsinze A, Abou-Chakra AMechanical Behaviour of Wollastonite-Based Cement Composites Incorporating Fibres and Recycled Rubber Aggregates [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 392131 843.

[9] Su P, Dai Q, Li M, et al.Investigation of the Mechanical and Shrinkage Properties of Plastic-Rubber Compound Modified Cement Mortar with Recycled Tire Steel Fiber[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 334127 391.

[10] Shao J W, Zhu H, Xue G, et al.Mechanical and Restrained Shrinkage Behaviors of Cement Mortar Incorporating Waste Tire Rubber Particles and Expansive Agent[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 296123 742.

[11] Onuaguluchi OEffects of Surface Pre-Coating and Silica Fume on Crumb Rubber-Cement Matrix Interface and Cement Mortar Properties[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015, 104339-345.

[12] Ma H D, Bai Y, Chen B, et al.Influence of Water-Cement Ratio and Rubber Admixture on Mechanical Properties and Energy Evolution Law of Mortar[J]. Materials Reports, 2025, 39(01): 198-204

[13] Gong Y, Chen P, Zhang J, et al.Improvement of Engineering Properties of Recycled Aggregate Mortar by Amending Waste Rubber Particles[J]. Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2025, 39(01): 198-204

[14] Turki M, Zarrad I, Bretagne E, et al.Influence of Filler Addition on Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Mortar-Rubber Aggregates: Experimental Study and Modeling[J]. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2012, 24(11): 1 350-1 358.

[15] Pedro D, De Brito J, Veiga RMortars Made with Fine Granulate from Shredded Tires[J]. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2013, 25(4): 519-529.

[16] Uygunoğlu T, Topçu İ B BThe Role of Scrap Rubber Particles on the Drying Shrinkage and Mechanical Properties of Self-Consolidating Mortars[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2010, 24(7): 1 141-1 150.

[17] Siddika A, Mamun M, Alyousef R, et al.Properties and Utilizations of Waste Tire Rubber in Concrete: A Review[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2019, 224: 711-731.

[18] Wang J, Zhao C, Li Q, et al.The Synergistic Effect of Recycled Steel Fibers and Rubber Aggregates from Waste Tires on the Basic Properties, Drying Shrinkage, and Pore Structures of Cement Concrete[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2025, 470: 140 574.

[19] Mo Q H, Yang R C, Zhu T KStudy on the Effect of Rubber Powder on Cement Hydration and Pore Structure of Cement-Based Materials [J]. Journal of Highway and Transportation Research and Development, 2017, 13(05): 84-87

[20] Pham N P, Toumi A, Turatsinze ARubber Aggregate-Cement Matrix Bond Enhancement: Microstructural Analysis, Effect on Transfer Properties and on Mechanical Behaviours of the Composite[J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2018, 941-12.

[21] Zia A, Holly I, Zhang PConstitutive Modeling and Extended Performance Evaluation of Concrete Reinforced with Non-Hybrid Waste Tire Steel Fibers[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 96: 110 522.

[22] Onuaguluchi O, Panesar D KHardened Properties of Concrete Mixtures Containing Pre-Coated Crumb Rubber and Silica Fume[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014, 82125-131.

[23] Mangili I, Lasagni M, Anzano M, et al.Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Natural Rubber Compounds Containing Devulcanized Ground Tire Rubber From Several Methods[J]. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2015, 121: 369-377.

[24] Si R, Guo S, Dai QDurability Performance of Rubberized Mortar and Concrete with NaOH-Solution Treated Rubber Particles[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2017, 153: 496-505.

[25] Dong Q, Huang B, Shu XRubber Modified Concrete Improved by Chemically Active Coating and Silane Coupling Agent[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2013, 48: 116-123.

[26] He L, Ma Y, Liu Q, et al.Surface Modification of Crumb Rubber and Its Influence on the Mechanical Properties of Rubber-Cement Concrete [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2016, 120: 403-407.

[27] Zhai S TDesign, Preparation and Properties Study of Rubber Aggregate Concrete Materials, 2023, Nanjing: Southeast University[D]

[28] Li Q C, Fan Y F, Chen HRheological Performance of Fresh Nano-Metakaolin Cement Pastes[J]. Journal of Southeast University(Natural Science Edition), 2021, 51(03): 480-488

[29] Liu Y, Shi C J, Jiao D W, et al.Rheological Properties, Models and Measurements for Fresh Cementitious Materials-A Short Review[J]. Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2017, 45(05): 708-716

[30] Deng Z, Zhang S, Deng ZPVA Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Mortar Made with Hybrid Recycled Aggregates: Toward Thermal Insulation, Lightweight and Improved Durability[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 426: 139 200.

[31] Alsaif A, Alharbi Y RStrength, Durability and Shrinkage Behaviours of Steel Fiber Reinforced Rubberized Concrete[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 345128 295.

[32] Hao R, Dong S, Guo XThe Research of Scrap Tire Rubber Powder Effect on the Performance of Cracking Mortar[C]. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 2012

[33] Newbury D E, Ritchie N WElemental Mapping of Microstructures by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS): Extraordinary Advances with the Silicon Drift Detector (SDD)[J]. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 2013, 28973-988.

[34] Zhai S T, Liu C, Liu G J, et al.Effect of Modified Rubber Powder on the Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Materials[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2022, 19: 4 141-4 153.

[35] Zhai S T, Zhou X, Zhang Y, et al.Effect of Multifunctional Modification of Waste Rubber Powder on the Workability and Mechanical Behavior of Cement-Based Materials[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 363: 129 880.

[36] Tu Y, Yu H, Ma H, et al.Experimental Study of the Relationship Between Bond Strength of Aggregates Interface and Microhardness of ITZ in Concrete[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 352128 990.

[37] Zhu H, Rong B, Xie R, et al.Experimental Investigation on the Floating of Rubber Particles of Crumb Rubber Concrete[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 164644-654.

[38] Hilts M, Jirasek A, Duzenli CTechnical Considerations for Implementation of X-Ray CT Polymer Gel Dosimetry[J]. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2005, 50(8): 1 727-1 745.

[39] Liu Z, Zhang Y, Jiang QContinuous Tracking of the Relationship Between Resistivity and Pore Structure of Cement Pastes[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2014, 53: 26-31.

[40] Li Z, Jin H, Sun BEffect of Rubber Granule Size Range and Morphology on the Compressive Strength of Rubber Mortar[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2025, 102112 038.

[41] Zhang J, Kuang C, Liu Z, et al.Evolutionary Trace for Ductile Fracture Performance of Rubber-Cement Composites[J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2021, 121104 080.

[42] Roychand R, Gravina R J, Zhuge Y, et al.A Comprehensive Review on the Mechanical Properties of Waste Tire Rubber Concrete[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2020, 237117 651.

Rights & permissions

Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature