Effect of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete: results of a RILEM interlaboratory study

Mechtcherine, Viktor; Schröfl, Christof; Wyrzykowski, Mateusz; Gorges, Michaela; Lura, Pietro; Cusson, Daniel; Margeson, Jim; Belie, Nele De; Snoeck, Didier; Ichimiya, Kazuo; Igarashi, Shukuro; Falikman, V.R.; Friedrich, Stefan; Bokern, Jürgen; Kara, Patricia; Marciniak, Alicja; Reinhardt, Hans‐Wolf; Sippel, Sören; Ribeiro, António Bettencourt; Custódio, João; Ye, Guang; Dong, Hua; Weiss, Jason

doi:10.1617/s11527-016-0868-7

Cited by 134 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Freeze–thaw resistance tests for concrete have been conducted by setting the SAP dosage and SAP particle size as variables [12]. Recently, the effect of two types of SAPs on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete in various regions of the world has been reported via the results of an inter-laboratory study [13]. In those studies, reference mixtures with different water-to-cement ratios were compared with respect to the freeze–thaw resistance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Effective Water-to-Cement Ratios on Internal Damage and Salt Scaling of Concrete with Superabsorbent Polymer

et al. 2019

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Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is attracting attention as a water-entraining admixture that reduces shrinkage or heals cracks in concrete. Cross-linked sodium polyacrylate SAPs, which are the most widely produced SAPs in the global market, are applicable as concrete admixtures. However, there have been contradictory results on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete with SAPs. This study aims to clarify these results considering the water absorption behavior of SAPs in hardened concrete when effective water-to-cement ratios are different. Firstly, the absorbencies of one kind of cross-linked sodium polyacrylate SAP (SAP_SP) in pore solution and fresh mortar were measured by a tea bag test and flow test, respectively. Pore size distribution, capillary water absorption, and deformation during freeze–thaw cycles were analyzed for mortar samples with varying SAP_SP dosages. In the main tests, concrete samples with three different SAP_SPs/cement ratios (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and a reference sample were prepared, and internal damage and salt scaling were measured under freeze–thaw cycles. Because SAP_SP absorbs water in fresh mixtures, additional water was added to the mixture considering the water absorbency of the SAP_SP. It was found that the used SAP_SPs prematurely release their stored water so the effective water-to-cement ratio was increased when a larger amount of SAP_SP was used. The higher effective water-to-cement ratio caused more internal damage and salt scaling due to the weaker cementitious matrix. In addition, mortar samples with a high SAP_SP content show a larger absorption of capillary water than the reference sample. The result can be interpreted by an observation that SAP_SP in air voids absorbs water and expands to relatively large capillary pores or neighbor air voids during the capillary water absorption process.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many experimental studies have found that SAP improves the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete [11,12,13,14,15]; however, opposite cases have also been reported [13,14,16]. A possible explanation for these conflicting results could be the complex absorption behavior of SAPs in hardened concrete when the concrete is exposed to water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Effective Water-to-Cement Ratios on Internal Damage and Salt Scaling of Concrete with Superabsorbent Polymer

et al. 2019

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“…With SAPs, the dimensions of the voids are fixed to the swollen state of the SAP during mixing, in contrast to regular air entrainment. Addition of SAPs does not necessarily need to affect the compressive strength [12] and seems to be promising independent from local raw materials and production processes [13]. The scope of this paper was to report an investigation under laboratory conditions on concrete durability by creating a size and shape-designed pore systems using SAP in concrete mixes, as an in alternative to AEA, in order to improve its durability, especially in terms of freeze-thaw resistance.…”

Section: Superabsorbent Polymers (Saps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Freeze–Thaw Resistance of Concrete Road Infrastructure by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers

Craeye,

Cockaerts,

Kara De Maeijer

2018

Infrastructures

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Abstract:The scope of the paper is to report an investigation on durability of infrastructure concrete for roads and bridges by creating a size and shape-designed pore systems in concrete in order to improve it, especially in terms of freeze-thaw resistance. By means of this experimental laboratory study, an alternative for usage of air entrainment agents (AEA) in concrete infrastructures was found in the way of using superabsorbent polymer materials (SAPs). The effect of the addition of SAPs of different amounts and different types into fresh concrete mix was investigated, including: compressive strength tests, weight loss measurements, visual and microscopic inspections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The detrimental strength reduction effect was not observed. The freeze-thaw procedure was varied, using different types of de-icing salts and heating/cooling regimes. It can be concluded that an improvement of the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete infrastructure depends on the particle size and optimal amount of SAPs added into concrete mix. The addition of 0.26 wt % of dry SAPs into the fresh concrete reference mix led to the significant decrease of scaling up to 43% after 28 freeze-thaw cycles. Both dosage and particle size of the SAPs had a significant impact on the obtained results and the freeze-thaw resistance in this experimental laboratory study.

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“…7 schematically represents the modification of cementitious systems by SAP. When capillary pores (10nm-10µm) are analysed, it is expected that SAPs increase total porosity due to macro-pore formation, especially when additional water is considered [34]. In the case of smaller pores, additional amounts of water do not significantly affect micropore range (< 2 nm) and slightly increase mesopore range (2-50 nm) [35].…”

Section: Mechanical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards more sustainable construction–application of superabsorbent polymers in cementitious matrices with reduced carbon footprint

Klemm

Almeida

2018

MATEC Web Conf.

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Abstract. Construction industry is constantly searching for sustainable innovations to mitigate negative environmental impacts. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) is a well-known supplementary cementitious material which contributes to reduction of energy and CO 2 emissions from cement industry. However, its use in cementitious systems leads to materials with high cracking susceptibility due to their greater autogenous shrinkage triggered by self-desiccation processes. This problem is even more pronounced when concrete is exposed to severe dry-hot weather conditions, such as in North Africa. In order to mitigate this negative effect of cracking, internal curing agents in the form of Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) can be successfully used. This approach leads to more durable cement based materials and in turn more sustainable constructions.

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Effect of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete: results of a RILEM interlaboratory study

Cited by 134 publications

References 16 publications

Influence of Effective Water-to-Cement Ratios on Internal Damage and Salt Scaling of Concrete with Superabsorbent Polymer

Influence of Effective Water-to-Cement Ratios on Internal Damage and Salt Scaling of Concrete with Superabsorbent Polymer

Improving Freeze–Thaw Resistance of Concrete Road Infrastructure by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers

Towards more sustainable construction–application of superabsorbent polymers in cementitious matrices with reduced carbon footprint

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