Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
7th International Congress on Engineering and Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye, 27 - 28 Eylül 2025, ss.59-65, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
This study evaluated the use of natural and expanded perlite as aggregates in polymer concrete production, and examined the performance of these aggregates under repeated freezethaw cycles. Unsaturated polyester resin and vinylester resin were preferred as binders in polymer concretes. Perlite was used in place of quartz aggregate at 0% (control), 5%, and 10%. In the experimental study, the produced samples were subjected to 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 freeze-thaw cycles; weight loss was measured after each cycle, and compressive strength loss was measured after 300 cycles. The obtained data showed that increasing the number of freeze-thaw cycles significantly increased both weight loss and compressive strength loss in the samples. According to the results, the highest weight loss, 6.33%, was observed in the VREP10 sample after 300 cycles. In terms of compressive strength loss, the highest loss was recorded in the VREP10 sample, at 42.35% after 300 cycles. According to the test results, minimal differences were observed between the polyester and vinylester resins in control samples and natural perlitesubstituted samples; while the polyester resin performed better in some samples, the vinylester resin was more advantageous in others. The findings reveal that freeze-thaw conditions significantly affect the performance of polymer concretes, and that this effect varies depending on the type of perlite, the perlite ratio, and the type of binder used. This study provides original contributions to the literature by examining in detail the effects of different perlite types and binder resins on the freeze-thaw resistance of polymer concretes.