Can superabsorbent polymers mitigate shrinkage in cementitious materials blended with supplementary cementitious materials?

Didier Snoeck, Ole Mejlhede Jensen, Nele De Belie

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    Abstract

    A promising way to mitigate autogenous shrinkage in cementitious materials with a low water-to-binder ratio is internal curing by the use of superabsorbent polymers. Superabsorbent polymers are able to absorb multiple times their weight in water and can be applied as an internal water reservoir to induce internal curing and mitigation of self-desiccation. Their purposefulness has been demonstrated in Portland cement pastes with and without silica fume. Nowadays, fly ash and blast-furnace slag containing binders are also frequently used in the construction industry. The results on autogenous shrinkage in materials blended with fly ash or blast-furnace slag remain scarce, especially after one week of age. This paper focuses on the autogenous shrinkage by performing manual and automated shrinkage measurements up to one month of age. Without superabsorbent polymers, autogenous shrinkage was reduced in cement pastes with the supplementary cementitious materials versus Portland cement pastes. At later ages, the rate of autogenous shrinkage is higher due to the pozzolanic activity of the supplementary cementitious materials. Internal curing by means of superabsorbent polymers is successful, independent of this long-term higher rate of shrinkage in mixtures with supplementary cementitious materials. Superabsorbent polymers proved to be successful in mitigating self-desiccation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInternational RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering : Conference segment on Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials
    PublisherRilem publications
    Publication date2016
    Pages21-29
    ISBN (Print)978-2-35158-178-0
    ISBN (Electronic)978-2-35158-179-7
    Publication statusPublished - 2016
    EventInternational RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering - Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
    Duration: 15 Aug 201629 Aug 2016

    Conference

    ConferenceInternational RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering
    LocationTechnical University of Denmark
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityKgs. Lyngby
    Period15/08/201629/08/2016

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