Thermal Characterization of Polymeric Plaster Composites

Plaster composites have been developed by the authors, aiming the manufacture of plasterboards and other building materials with enhanced properties. Polymeric plaster composites,obtained from hydration of commercial plaster of Paris with aqueous solutions of a commercial polyester, were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). A method using derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) was developed to determine the polymer content in the composites and its distribution. Samples prepared conventionally by hydration of plaster of Paris with water were used as reference. Independently of the initial solution concentration, all the composites show an even distribution of the polymer, which presence enhances the composite mechanical strength. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.