Tamarind Gum Biopolymer for Concrete Enhancement: Evaluating a Natural Solution for Improved Performance

Abstract

This study explores the use of tamarind gum biopolymer (TGB) as a sustainable additive in concrete, with a focus on workability, strength, and durability. TGB considerably improves concrete performance by increasing hydration, decreasing microcracking, and encouraging a denser microstructure at an optimum dosage of 0.2% by weight of cement. Slump cone and flow table tests show that 0.2% TGB provides a balanced combination of workability and stength. Tests of strength revealed gains in split tensile strength (20% at 7 days, 21.21% at 28 days), flexural strength (7.81% at 7 days, 10.83% at 28 days), and compressive strength (10.78% at 7 days, 11.13% at 28 days). Incorporating 0.2% TGB into concrete significantly enhances its durability by reducing chloride ion penetration, indicating improved performance in aggressive environments. A comparison of linear regression and MLP-based ANN models demonstrated that the MLP provided more accurate predictions of 28-day concrete compressive strength from 7-day results, effectively capturing nonlinear relationships. XRD analysis reveals that incorporating 0.2% TGB enhances hydrogen and carbon bonding in concrete, significantly improving its flexural strength, durability, and resistance to cracking and environmental stress. SEM analysis revealed the formation of C–H bonds, indicating effective integration of tamarind gum biopolymer and its role in enhancing the microstructure of concrete.