Examination of the permeability of rubberized concrete with different water/cement ratios and their resistance against acid and sulfate attack.

This article investigates the permeability and durability of rubberized concrete incorporating recycled waste rubber in three grain sizes (chips, crumb, powder) at varying replacement ratios (0%–24%) of fine and coarse aggregates, with water/cement (w/c) ratios of 0.4 and 0.5. Tests on sorptivity, electrical resistivity, and resistance to acid and sulfate attacks after 90 days of curing revealed that rubber substitution generally increased capillary water absorption but improved electrical resistivity at optimal rubber contents (notably 12% at w/c 0.4). Rubberized concretes with 16% waste rubber showed significantly reduced compressive strength loss under acid and sulfate attacks compared to control samples, with higher w/c ratios (0.5) enhancing resistance to these aggressive environments. The study highlights that both the water/cement ratio and the proportion of waste rubber are critical parameters influencing the durability and permeability of rubberized concrete, suggesting ideal rubber substitution levels between 12% and 16%.