Capitalizing on Self-Desiccation for Autogenous Distribution of Chemical Admixtures Dale P. Bentz 4 th International Seminar on Self- Desiccation in Concrete June 20, 2005

Background Self-desiccation due to chemical shrinkage results in: –Reduction in internal RH –Creation of capillary stresses in the pore solution –Reduction in achieved degree of hydration relative to saturated curing –Measurable autogenous deformation –Possible (micro)cracking at early (and later) ages

Example: Detrimental Influence Sealed curing and self-desiccation can lead to repercolation of originally depercolated capillary porosity in hydrating cement pastes as indicated by low temperature calorimetry (LTC) results Sealed/ resaturated specimens w/c= o C

Some Possible Benefits of Self- Desiccation Earlier application of flooring materials (Persson, 2002) Increased frost resistance (Powers, 1947) Offsetting thermal expansion at early ages (Swayze, 1942) Earlier depercolation of capillary porosity for intermediate w/c ratios (0.40 to 0.45) Autogenous distribution of chemical admixtures

Earlier Depercolation of Capillary Pores w/c=0.45, 40 o C, 14 d curing

Earlier Depercolation of Capillary Pores saturated sealed - For intermediate w/c (0.4 to 0.45), sealed curing may be more effective at depercolating capillary porosity, as it concentrates hydration in smaller pores and pore entryways (not in empty larger pores)

Autogenous Distribution of Chemical Admixtures Concept is an extension of internal curing from delivering “curing” water to delivering solutions of chemical admixtures Fine lightweight aggregates are saturated with chemical admixture solutions –FLAIR (Fine Lightweight Aggregates as Internal Reservoirs) Potential advantages over conventional delivery –Avoidance of detrimental interactions in fresh concrete –More efficient delivery of admixtures that are partially absorbed by cement and hydration products

Materials Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) proficiency cement sample 152 –C 3 S: 73.4 %, C 2 S: 9.4 %, C 3 A: 13.1 %, C 4 AF: 4.1 % –Blaine fineness of 408 m 2 /kg –Mixing water-cement mass ratio (w/c) of 0.3 Lightweight aggregates (LWA) –Passing a #8 sieve, but retained on a #16 –SSD specific gravity of 1.67 –Water absorption of 20 % per unit dry mass LWA –Saturated with either water or a 10 % shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA)/water solution “Clarissa’s” mixture of four sands for a “high- performance” mortar

Mortar Mixture Proportions MaterialCONTROLFLAIRCONVENTIONAL Cement1250 g Water Water reducer16.0 SRA F95 sand Graded sand sand S15 sand Prewetted LWA Water for LWA % SRA solution

Measurements Air content of fresh mortar via unit mass Compressive strength of 50 mm cubes after 7 d, 28 d, and 91 d of sealed curing at 23 o C Degree of hydration at same ages via loss-on-ignition (LOI) analysis Drying shrinkage: 25 mm x 25 mm x 285 mm prisms exposed to 23 o C and 50 % RH after 3 d of sealed curing at 23 o C Autogenous shrinkage of 25 mm x 400 mm cylindrical corrugated tubes cured at 23 o C –Jensen and Hansen method (Denmark)

Mortar Properties PropertyCONTROLFLAIRCONVENTIONAL Air content3.4 % (0.6 %)8.3 % (0.4 %)5.1 % (0.4 %) 7 d strength (MPa)38.8 (2.8 %)36.5 (4.6 %)40.4 (6.0 %) 28 d strength42.1 (6.7 %)41.0 (3.7 %)41.0 (4.5 %) 91 d strength43.7 (4.5 %)42.6 (9.9 %)42.7 (11.4 %) 7 d hydration0.53 (0.01)0.57 (0.01)0.59 (0.01) 28 d hydration0.57 (0.01)0.66 (0.01) 91 d hydration0.59 (0.01)0.68 (0.01) -Higher air content in FLAIR system (SRA an air detrainer) -Equivalent performance in terms of strength -Enhanced hydration in the two systems with internal curing

Autogenous Deformation -FLAIR and conventional delivery provide equivalent reductions in measured autogenous shrinkage

Drying Shrinkage (1) -Even with a higher water content, internal curing mixtures exhibit less drying shrinkage due to the presence of the SRA

Drying Shrinkage (2)

Summary In this preliminary study contrasting FLAIR vs. conventional delivery of chemical admixtures: –FLAIR system exhibited a significantly higher fresh air content (avoidance of SRA air detraining action) –FLAIR and conventional delivery of the SRA, along with internal curing, provided basically equivalent improvements in both autogenous and drying shrinkage Further studies are underway for a variety of chemical admixtures and two LWA sources: –Shrinkage-reducing admixtures –Corrosion inhibitors –Admixtures for mitigating alkali-silica reaction (ASR)

Acknowledgements FLAIR collaborators –Mr. Max Peltz (NIST) –Mr. John W. Roberts (Northeast Solite) –Mr. Thomas A. Holm (ESCSI) –Dr. Neal Berke (W.R. Grace) –Dr. Aiping Lu (Sika) –Dr. Daniel Constantiner (Degussa) –Ms. Caroline Talbot (Euclid Chemical)