Effect of Self Curing Agent on the Properties and Durability of Normal and High Strength Self-Compacted Concrete Properties
Abstract
Considering the promising performance of Self-compacting concrete, it has been widely used in numerous constructions. Self-curing concrete provides a solution for an enormous saving of water. This research is devoted to evaluating the effect of using different self-curing agents which are polyethylene glycol with molecular weights 400, 600, 4000, and 6000, and polyacrylamide on the properties of the normal and high strength self-compacted concrete samples. Evaluating the results of the flowability, passing-ability, compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, and flexural strength tests is introduced. Results show that increasing of self-curing agent content decreases the slump flow and passing-ability. The optimum dosage of self-curing agents is 0.3% for polyacrylamide, 0.5% for PEG400, PEG600 and PEG6000 and 1.0% for PEG4000. Compressive strength test results till 365 days age shows that adding self-curing agent affect strength positively with age increasing. Specimens containing the optimum dosage of self-curing agents show lower sorptivity than control mixes.
