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Pro114

LINKING SURFACTANT MOLECULAR STRUCTURE TO MORTAR FROST PROTECTION



Author: Lori E. Tunstall, George W. Scherer, Robert K. Prud’homme
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the International RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering Conference Segment on Frost Action in Concrete
Editor(s): Marianne Tange Hasholt, Katja Fridh and R. Doug Hooton
ISBN:978-2-35158-182-7
e-ISBN:978-2-35158-183-4
Publisher:RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year:2016
Pages:202-211
Total Pages:10
Language:English


Abstract: Using surface tension to investigate two commercial surfactants, a saponified tall oil and a saponified rosin, we find that the tall oil interacts more strongly with calcium ions in solution than does the rosin. When mortars are made using these surfactants, we show that the pore size in the air void shells decreases with an increase in surfactant until it reaches a pore size (< 2.3 nm) where the ice in the voids cannot escape. We also demonstrate that the tall oil surfactant is able to reach this minimum pore size at about half the molar concentration of the rosin surfactant, which supports what has been suggested by others, that surfactant interaction with calcium ions is vital to the frost protection of concrete.


Online publication:2016
Publication type:full_text
Public price (Euros):0.00


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