Study on Effect of Silicate-Based Surface Impregnations to Improve Abrasion Resistance of Mortar by Water Jet Abrasion Test

Abstract

The effect of silicate-based surface impregnations on the abrasion resistance of mortar was verified using a water jet abrasion test. Several mortar substrates with different water-cement ratios and fine aggregate contents were used in the experiment. The test time required for the specimens with and without impregnations to abrade by 1 mm was determined, and the ratio of these times was evaluated as the effect of the impregnations on abrasion resistance. In addition, the depth at which the abrasion resistance was improved by the impregnations was estimated from the relationship between the depth from the surface of the specimen and the abrasion rate. The results revealed that the effect of the impregnations on the abrasion resistance and reforming depth was greater when the water-cement ratio of the mortar substrate was higher and the amount of fine aggregate was lower. While the impregnations contributed to an improvement in abrasion resistance near the mortar surface, there were indications that they might also facilitate abrasion progression beyond a certain depth.