Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of superabsorbent polymers on hydration of cement pastes with low water-to-binder ratio

A calorimetry study

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Internal curing with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) is a method for promoting hydration of cement and limiting self-desiccation, shrinkage and cracking in high-performance, and ultra high-performance concrete with low water-to-binder ratio. SAP are introduced in the dry state during mixing and form water-filled inclusions by absorbing pore solution. The absorbed solution is later released to the cement paste during hydration of the cement. In this paper, cement pastes with low water-to-binder ratios incorporating superplasticizer and different dosages of SAP and corresponding additional water were prepared. Reference cement pastes without SAP but with the same amount of water and superplasticizer were also mixed. Isothermal calorimetry was used to measure hydration heat flow. Water entrainment by means of SAP increased the degree of hydration at later hydration times in a manner similar to increasing the water-to-binder ratio. Addition of SAP also delayed the main calorimetric hydration peak compared to the reference pastes, however, in a less prominent manner than the increase in water-to-cement ratio.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Buchholz FL, Graham AT. Modern superabsorbent polymer technology. New York: Wiley VCH; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jensen OM, Hansen PF. Water-entrained cement-based materials: I. Principles and theoretical background. Cem Concr Res. 2001;31(4):647–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jensen OM, Hansen PF. Water-entrained cement-based materials II. Experimental observations. Cem Concr Res. 2002;32(6):973–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mechtcherine V, Reinhardt H-W. Application of super absorbent polymers (SAP) in concrete construction. RILEM state of the art reports 2. Dordecht: Springer; 2012.

  5. Wyrzykowski M, Lura P. Controlling the coefficient of thermal expansion of cementitious materials: a new application for superabsorbent polymers. Cem Concr Comp. 2013;35(1):49–58.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Powers TC, Brownyard TL. Studies of the physical properties of hardened Portland cement paste. Skokie: Portland Cement Association, Research Laboratories; 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brouwers HJH. The work of Powers and Brownyard revisited: Part 1. Cem Concr Res. 2004;34(9):1697–716.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hansen T. Physical structure of hardened cement paste. A classical approach. Mater. Struct. 1986;19(6):423–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lura P, Jensen OM, van Breugel K. Autogenous shrinkage in high-performance cement paste: an evaluation of basic mechanisms. Cem Concr Res. 2003;33(2):223–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jensen OM, Lura P. Techniques and materials for internal water curing of concrete. Mater Struct. 2006;39(9):817–25.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wyrzykowski M, Lura P, Pesavento F, Gawin D. Modeling of water migration during internal curing with superabsorbent polymers. ASCE J Mater Civ Eng. 2012;24(8):1006–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lura P, Friedemann K, Stallmach F, Mönnig S, Wyrzykowski M, Esteves LP. Kinetics of water migration. In: Mechtcherine V, Reinhardt HW, editors. Application of super absorbent polymers (SAP) in concrete construction. RILEM state of the art reports 2. Dordrecht: Springer; 2012. p. 25–37.

  13. Wyrzykowski M, Lura P, Pesavento F, Gawin D. Modeling of internal curing in maturing mortar. Cem Concr Res. 2011;41(12):1349–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Schröfl C, Mechtcherine V, Gorges M. Relation between the molecular structure and the efficiency of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) as concrete admixture to mitigate autogenous shrinkage. Cem Concr Res. 2012;42(6):865–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hasholt MT, Jensen OM, Kovler K, Zhutovsky S. Can superabsorent polymers mitigate autogenous shrinkage of internally cured concrete without compromising the strength? Constr Build Mater. 2012;31:226–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Esteves L, Cachim P, Ferreira V. Mechanical properties of cement mortars with superabsorbent polymers. In: Grosse CU, editor. Advances in construction materials. Berlin: Springer; 2007. p. 451–62.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Winnefeld F, Barlag S. Calorimetric and thermogravimetric study on the influence of calcium sulfate on the hydration of ye’elimite. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2010;101(3):949–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lura P, Winnefeld F, Klemm S. Simultaneous measurements of heat of hydration and chemical shrinkage on hardening cement pastes. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2010;101(3):925–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhang T, Yu Q, Wei J, Gao P, Zhang P. Study on optimization of hydration process of blended cement. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012;107(2):489–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Taylor HFW. Modification of the Bogue calculation. Adv Cem Res. 1989;2(6):73–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Justs J, Wyrzykowski M, Deschner F, Winnefeld F, Bajare D, Lura P. Influence of superabsorbent polymers on hydration of cement pastes with very low water-to-binder ratio. Tagung Bauchemie, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, Fachgruppe Bauchemie. 11–12 October 2012: Dübendorf; 2012.

  22. Tritik P, Münch B, Weiss WJ, Herth G, Kaestner A, Lehmann E et al. Neutron tomography investigation of water release from superabsorbent polymers in cement paste. International Conference on Material Science and 64th RILEM Annual Week; 6–10 September. Aachen; 2010.

  23. Laboratory for Waste Management, Paul Scherer Institute. GEMS: Gibbs energy minimization software for geochemical modeling. 2012. http://gems.web.psi.ch/. Accessed Dec 2012.

  24. Concrete/Construction Chemistry Laboratory, Empa. CEMDATA: thermodynamic data for hydrated solids in Portland cement system. 2012. http://www.empa.ch/cemdata. Accessed Dec 2012.

  25. Langan BW, Weng K, Ward MA. Effect of silica fume and fly ash on heat of hydration of Portland cement. Cem Concr Res. 2002;32(7):1045–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Winnefeld F, Becker S, Pakusch J, Götz T. Effects of the molecular architecture of comb-shaped superplasticizers on their performance in cementitious systems. Cem Concr Compos. 2007;29(4):251–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Taylor HFW. Cement chemistry. London: Academic Press Limited; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Danielson U. Heat of hydration of cement as affected by water-cement ratio. Fourth international symposium of the chemistry of cement. Washington DC; 1960.

  29. Siriwatwechakul W, Siramanont J, Vichit-Vadakan W. Behavior of superabsorbent polymers in calcium- and sodium-rich solutions. J Mater Civ Eng. 2012;24(8):976–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Scientific Exchange Programme NMS-CH under the project “ASPIRE-Autogenous shrinkage and early age behavior of high and ultra-high performance concrete”. The superabsorbent polymers used in this study were provided by Dr. Gregor Herth and Dr. Stefan Friedrich from BASF Construction Chemicals GmbH.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Janis Justs, Mateusz Wyrzykowski, Frank Winnefeld & Pietro Lura

  2. Institute of Materials and Structures, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia

    Janis Justs & Diana Bajare

  3. Department of Building Physics and Building Materials, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland

    Mateusz Wyrzykowski

  4. Institute for Building Materials (IfB), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Pietro Lura

Authors
  1. Janis Justs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mateusz Wyrzykowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frank Winnefeld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Diana Bajare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pietro Lura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janis Justs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Justs, J., Wyrzykowski, M., Winnefeld, F. et al. Influence of superabsorbent polymers on hydration of cement pastes with low water-to-binder ratio. J Therm Anal Calorim 115, 425–432 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3359-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3359-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation