Abstract

In this paper we have studied some physical characteristics of gypsum composites incorporated with two different tire rubber granulometry. The experimental program was formed by the following tests: consistency (mini-slump), compressive strength and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rubber used in the composites came from the retreading of tires with 5 and 10% incorporation in relation to the plaster mass and the two different granulometry used were denominated thicknesses (# 0.6 mm) and thick (# 1.19 mm ). The results were compared with the control paste, in which there was no incorporation of rubber. The rubbers of different granulometry stood out in different points. The thin rubber presented a compressive strength close to the value observed in the control, with an addition of 5% by mass, which may be due to its adherence to gypsum paste, which occurred in a less porous manner and with a closer interface between the rubber particles and pulp, observed through the SEM. The thick rubber presented the best results in consistency, contributing to the workability of the pulp, which was also observed in SEM, where the thick rubber presents less adherence to the gypsum plaster, compared to the composite with incorporation of fine rubber. It was possible to affirm, then, that rubber as residual material presented interesting characteristics in applications in plaster composites.