Enhancing Early-Age Resistance to Cracking in High-Strength Cement-Based Materials by Means of Internal Curing Using Super Absorbent Polymers

Title: Enhancing Early-Age Resistance to Cracking in High-Strength Cement-Based Materials by Means of Internal Curing Using Super Absorbent Polymers
Author(s): L. Dudziak, V. Mechtcherine
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Conference on Material Science
Editor(s): W. Brameshuber
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-110-0
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-111-7
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2010
Pages: 129 - 139
Total Pages: 11
Nb references: 8
Language: English

Abstract: This paper reports on the effectiveness of internal curing to reduce two major causes of early-age cracking in high-strength cementitious materials, i.e. autogenous and plastic shrinkage. As a measure to develop such curing, the materials, including fine-grained UHPC and cement paste, were enriched using varied amounts of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) and extra water whilst mixing. Investigations of shrinkage under free and restrained conditions demonstrated that internal curing can diminish the likelihood of early-age cracking significantly. The amount of SAP and extra water added was found to be decisive both in determining the magnitude of such changes and the history of evolution of autogenous shrinkage. Some deterioration of the early-age mechanical properties in internally cured materials resulted from the retarding of their setting behaviour and from particular changes in their porosity.

Online publication: 2010-12-02
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00