The effect of polymer coated pumice to the stiffness and flexural strength of reinforce concrete beam

Pumice has been proven as substitution material aggregate in lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). However due to its characteristic, pumice has the disadvantages of its excessive water absorption during preparation of concrete mixture which may reduce concrete strength. Therefore in order to eliminate this additional water absorption, this study investigate the effect of coated pumice in concrete mixture to the beam flexural strength and stiffness. This study performed flexural strength test on three types of sample: 1) normal reinforce concrete beam, 2) reinforce concrete beam with uncoated pumice and 3) reinforce concrete beam with coated pumice. The result showed that the lightest weight concrete occurred on the coated pumice specimen, with the reduction of water absorption was 4% compared to the uncoated pumice specimen. The stiffness of the reinforce beam with coated pumice was lower compared to the uncoated ones, this was due to the reduction of adhesion action between cement and aggregates. However, the use of coated pumice increased the flexural strength compare to the uncoated ones with 2.58%.