scholarly journals The Behavior of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs) in Cement Mixtures with Glass Powders as Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3597
Author(s):  
Khashayar Farzanian ◽  
Babak Vafaei ◽  
Ali Ghahremaninezhad

The absorption and desorption of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) in cement mixtures containing two different glass powders as supplementary cementitious materials are examined in this paper. Two SAPs with different chemical compositions were synthesized in-house and used in the experiments. SAP absorption was investigated directly through the mass change of SAPs in cement slurries, as well as indirectly using the flow test. Scanning electron microscopy was used to monitor the desorption of SAPs using samples prepared with freeze-drying. Hydration and setting time were evaluated to explain the desorption behavior of SAPs. SAP absorption generally increased in pastes with glass powders. The desorption rate of SAPs in different pastes was shown to correlate with the onset of solid skeleton development in the pastes. The addition of SAPs reduced autogenous shrinkage in neat cement paste more than in pastes with glass powders.

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 2962 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Roberto Tenório Filho ◽  
Maria Adelaide Pereira Gomes de Araújo ◽  
Didier Snoeck ◽  
Nele De Belie

Many studies have already been published concerning autogenous shrinkage in cementitious materials. Still, no consensus can be found in the literature regarding the determination of the time-zero to initiate the recording of autogenous shrinkage. With internal curing agents, a correct evaluation of their efficiency depends on an appropriate choice of the time-zero. This study investigates different approaches to estimate the time-zero for cement paste mixtures with and without superabsorbent polymers as internal curing agents. The initial and final setting times were determined by an electronic Vicat and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements (UPV); the transition point between the fluid and solid state was determined from the autogenous strain curve; the development of the capillary pressure was also studied. The choice of time-zero before the transition point led to higher values of shrinkage strain that should not be taken into account for autogenous shrinkage. A negligible difference was found between the strains when the final setting time and the transition point were taken as time-zero. Considering the artefacts and practical issues involving the different methods, the use of the transition point from the autogenous strain curve is the most suitable technique for determining the time-zero.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1609
Author(s):  
Rohollah Rostami ◽  
Agnieszka J. Klemm ◽  
Fernando C. R. Almeida

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), are often used as a partial replacement of cements to improve the sustainability of Portland cement-based materials and reduce their environmental impact. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can be successfully used as internal curing agents in ultra-high performance cementitious materials by facilitating the hydration process and controlling the water supply in both fresh and hardened states. This paper intends to characterise the physical and chemical properties of SAPs and their sorption properties in different blended cement environments. The swelling capacity and kinetics of absorption of three superabsorbent polymers with different chemical compositions and grading were tested in different cement environments. Experimental results of their sorption performance in distinct solutions, including deionised water (DI), Portland cement (PC), and blended cements (PC-FA and PC-GGBS) and changes in pH of different solutions over time were investigated. The results showed that PC-FA solution had the lowest pH followed by PC-GGBS solution. Moreover, SAPs samples displayed the highest absorption capacities in PC-FA solutions, and the lowest swelling capacities were found in PC-GGBS solutions. Furthermore, SAP with smaller particle sizes had the greatest absorption capacity values in all solutions.


Author(s):  
Olusola Emmanuel Babalola ◽  
Paul O. Awoyera

Supplementary cementitious materials are most needed to enhance a sustainable development in poor communities. It is pertinent to investigate the suitability of such alternative materials for construction. The present study evaluates the strength characteristics of concrete made with varied proportion of Cordia millenii ash blended with Portland cement. Chemical composition of Cordia millenii and the setting time when blended with cement was determined. Other laboratory tests performed on Cordia millenii blended cement include: sieve analysis and specific gravity. Five replacement percentages of Cordia millenii (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were blended with cement in concrete. Control specimens were also produced with only cement. Tests to determine the workability, air entrained, bulk density and compressive strength properties of the concrete were also conducted. Results obtained revealed that optimum Cordia millenii mix is 10%, which yielded the highest density and compressive strength in the concrete.


Author(s):  
Cameron Wilson ◽  
W. Jason Weiss

High early strength (HES) concrete patching materials are increasingly used to repair damaged pavements. The use of HES concrete enables the repaired pavement to be opened to traffic shortly after the repair has been installed; for example, opening pavements to traffic 4–6 h after the concrete is placed is becoming more common. HES concrete mixtures are typically designed with a low water-to-cement ratio and a high cement content; they contain accelerating admixtures and limited supplementary cementitious materials. As a result, these HES patches may be susceptible to self-desiccation, causing autogenous shrinkage and early age cracking. Self-desiccation can lead to reduced hydration, limited strength gain, and overestimation of strength development in maturity-based predictions. The objectives of this study are threefold. First, the paper will illustrate how self-desiccation can lead to the premature cessation of hydration and increased potential for shrinkage cracking. Second, the paper will illustrate how maturity-based predictions can be modified to account for self-desiccation. Third, internal curing is discussed as a way to mitigate self-desiccation and shrinkage ultimately improving the performance of HES concrete patching materials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10548
Author(s):  
Christian Cremona ◽  
Stéphanie Vildaer ◽  
Maxim Cadillac

Three metakaolins are evaluated for use as supplementary cementitious materials in cement-based systems. The metakaolins vary in mineralogical composition and in fabrication (traditional and flash calcination), but are quite similar in their surface area (16–19 m2/g), but are quite similar in mineralogical composition. Performance of metakaolin mixtures will be compared to two control mixtures (standard concrete for foundation C40/50 and high performance concrete C60/75). In this study, the properties of fresh concrete and the mechanical and durability properties of hardened concrete will be examined. The rheological behaviour are aimed to determine the effect of metakaolin on mixture workability. Compressive, tensile and flexural strength and elastic modulus will be measured at various concrete ages. The influence of metakaolin on durability is assessed through rapid chloride migration and carbonation measurements. For high performance concrete mixtures, drying and autogenous shrinkage will be monitored and creep measurements are performed and compared.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Snoeck

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are promising admixtures to improve properties in cementitious materials. Not only useful to mitigate autogenous shrinkage and to increase the freeze-thaw resistance, SAP particles may enhance self-sealing and self-healing in cementitious materials. The self-sealing leads to a regain in water tightness and promoted autogenous healing may prove to be useful to limit repair works caused by concrete cracking. By providing sufficient building blocks for healing, limiting the crack width by means of synthetic microfibers and inducing water by means of SAPs, a smart cementitious material is obtained. This material can be an excellent material to use in future building applications such as tunnel works and ground-retaining structures. This paper gives an overview of the current status of the research on SAPs in cementitious materials to obtain sealing and healing.


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