Flexibility, stretchability, and flame retardancy are of ever increasing importance in constructing grouting materials. Herein, a simple and effective strategy to make organic-inorganic composite grouting material in a "flexible, stretchable, and flame retardant" way was based on the excellent synergistic interactions among polyurethane prepolymer, red mud, polyethylene glycol, and trimethylolpropane. The resultant polyurethane/red mud composite grouting material with three-dimensional network structure presented a favorable flexibility, desirable compressive strength of 29.2 MPa at 50% compression state, and a good elongation at 15.1%. The grouting material was mainly composed of amorphous polyurethane and crystalline red mud, and its probable formation mechanism was reaction of prepolymer with H₂O, polyethylene glycol and trimethylolpropane under vigorous stirring in the presence of catalyst. Furthermore, the grouting material possessed favorable thermal stability, flame retardancy and repairment performance for roadway cracks. This work may open a simple and convenient avenue for the massive engineering application of red mud and preparation of flexible organic-inorganic hybrid grouting material.
Keywords: flexibility; grouting material; polyurethane; red mud; stretchability.