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Hydration of cement with superabsorbent polymers

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Abstract

Hydration of cement is a complex thermodynamic system where a number of heterogeneous compounds interact with each other to form cement hydrates. Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) can be added to cement systems with many different reasons, so it is relevant that the basic knowledge of this new compound on the development of hydration is well understood. This paper reports basic research on thermal analysis of cement pastes with SAP—a suspension-polymerized poly acrylic acid–acrylamide copolymer. Several parameters were analysed: the concentration of SAP, the effect of particle size distribution and their influence on the hydration process with focus on ordinary Portland cement. The methodology included thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Combined water method was employed at different thermodynamic conditions, so the energy of activation in the different systems can be accessed. The introduction of SAP in cement-based materials significantly affects the chemical balance of ordinary Portland cement. The effect is not only in terms of the amount of hydrates, but also the type of hydrates being generated, thermodynamically favourable to precipitation of calcium hydroxide. This paper provides information relevant to hydration modelling and comprehension of cementitious materials when internal curing is active.

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Acknowledgements

This work was performed under the research Grant FP7 EU—Nanotechnology Enhanced Extruded Fibre Reinforced Foam Cement Based Environmentally Friendly Sandwich Material for Building Applications (Grant agreement no. 262954). Discussion with Ole Mejlhede Jensen on the dispersion model to describe the thermodynamics of cement hydration is appreciated. The discussion and help with the TG/DSC experiments by Arūnas Baltušnikas are kindly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Denmark, Brovej, Bygning 118, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark

    Luis Pedro Esteves

  2. Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos 3, 44403, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Irena Lukošiūtė & Jūratė Čėsnienė

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  1. Luis Pedro Esteves
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  2. Irena Lukošiūtė
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  3. Jūratė Čėsnienė
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Correspondence to Luis Pedro Esteves.

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Esteves, L.P., Lukošiūtė, I. & Čėsnienė, J. Hydration of cement with superabsorbent polymers. J Therm Anal Calorim 118, 1385–1393 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-4133-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-4133-4

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