Improving rubber concrete strength and toughness by plasma?induced end?of?life tire rubber surface modification

This study evaluates the effectiveness of using different plasma treatments to favor compatibility between rubber and a cement matrix in composites, thus leading surface reactivity component. Plasma-treated rubbers were introduced into two types concrete. Mechanical tests highlighted that Portland concrete composites filled with N2/H2 plasma-treated had increased flexural strength, toughness, compression strength compared containing untreated rubber. A scaling law is also proposed qualitatively discriminate related effects due topological/roughness or intrinsic/chemical adhesion modifications. Plasma treatment can improve both intrinsic roughness rubber–cement interface overall toughness.