ABSTRACT
In the production process of PM, a commercially available unsaturated polyester resin (Aropol® FS3992, Quimidroga Portugal-Produtos Químicos Unipessoal Lda) was applied as polymer binder. Nano-zirconia particles (ZrO2, Innovnano), with 20 nm average size and 25.0 m2 ⋅ g−1 specific surface, were used for polymer binder modification; and a foundry sand (Fundipor), with an average diameter of 245 μm, was applied as mineral aggregate. Manual stirring and ultrasound sonication techniques were used to promote the
1 INTRODUCTION
The need for a building material with high strength and durability afforded the development of Polymer Mortars (PM). PM show, in general, high mechanical, chemical and durability properties; however, they also exhibit great sensitivity to high temperatures and creep phenomena, and mainly, deficient behaviour under fire (Ribeiro et al., 2004, 2008; Tavares et al., 2002).
