EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/K31534/01
Title: A PILOT STUDY OF WATER INTRUSION/STRESS MOBILISATION IN DENSE POLYMER SYSTEMS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
Principal Investigator: Hunter, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Hewlett, Professor P Harvey, Professor B Lloyd, Dr CH
Hewlett, Professor P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Dundee
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 1995 Ends: 30 September 1996 Value (£): 53,939
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
High density and high modulus polymers, such as polyesters and epoxides are now widely used in building and construction. These resins are polar substances and as such may have an affinity for water. Such affinity is subtle and long term. If significant amounts of water do enter the cured resin, substantial swelling pressures can be expected since the materials have high moduli. The more intimate a joint, the more likely stresses caused by swelling will be transferred, resulting in distortion and possible fracture. Previous imbibition studies have been based largely on material weight change and the dubious assumption of Fickian diffusion. Reliable information about mechanism and spatial distribution, and the ultimate fate of the imbibed fluid is negligible. NMR microscopy will be used to noninvasively measure the time-dependent concentration profiles of water imbibed by resin systems already used by the construction industry and which have some pedigree. It is anticipated that this limited study will indicate how prognoses of long term response can be quantified.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.dundee.ac.uk