Sustainable MBC bonder to eliminate epoxies during retrofit

It is well known that concrete structures, like all other structures, are subjected to a loss of strength during their design due to various detrimental factors such as corrosion, weathering and poor maintenance as well as natural calamities. Therefore, the retrofitting of concrete structures is rapidly gaining its significance in order to protect and strengthen the deteriorating structures. There are a number of methods to retrofit a damaged concrete element and prevent its failure, and many of these retrofitting techniques involve in the use of the epoxy resin as a binder. This paper mainly focuses on the idea of replacing the epoxy resin binder used for the Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) retrofit with an innovative and sustainable Mineral Based Composite (MBC) bonder. Epoxies are volatile to high and low temperatures, create diffusion-closed surfaces and do not bond properly in humid climate. Apart from that, they will cause chronic effects on the people working or living with them for long time. With ample evidences in the literature, the drawbacks of using epoxy will be highlighted along with the remedial measures for obtaining a new substitute. Mineral based strengthening system is a recent development in the field of civil engineering. Cement-based composites can act as a suitable retrofit option for eliminating the harmful epoxy usage. FRP sheets would be used to wrap around damaged concrete surface with the help of innovative mineral bonders. The methodology of arriving in an optimal mix proportion for MBC with the material quality testing will be discussed further.