The Effects of Modified Chitosan on the Physicomechanical Properties of Mortar

Abstract

This paper reports a study on producing admixtures from chitosan (Ch) obtained from shrimp shell treatment. The admixtures (Ch-g-AA) were based on chitosan (Ch) and acrylic acid (AA) in the following composition ratios: 65/35, 50/50, and 35/65. The grafted copolymers were synthesized using grafting polymerization and potassium persulphate as the initiator. This study investigated the properties of mortars in the presence of grafted copolymers, including setting time, workability, water absorption, and compressive strength. The results showed that grafted copolymers premixed with mortar mixes improved the properties of the mortar. However, increasing the AA ratio in the grafted copolymer decreased the W/C ratio, setting time, and water absorption, whereas the fluidity and compressive strength increased.