Design methodology and mechanical properties of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) cement-based materials

Abstract

Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) is attracting great concerns in cement-based materials. However, the design of SAP cement-based materials is lack of theoretical basis. This study proposed a design methodology of cement-based materials containing SAP based on the criterion of flowability similarity. The workability and mechanical properties of SAP cement-based materials with W/C of 0.30 and 0.35 were studied. The standard extra water diversion rates under different SAP contents were determined. With the increase of SAP content, the standard extra water diversion rates increased. The influence of curing conditions on the strength growth of SAP cement-based materials was also investigated. Under water curing condition, SAP played a negative effect on the compressive strength of cement mortar and concrete; while SAP enhanced the compressive strength at the later age under air curing condition. Different from the compressive strength, SAP helped enhance the flexural strength of cement mortar under both water curing and air curing conditions. The criterion of optimal effect of internal curing was employed to analyze the mechanical properties of cement mortars with 0.5% SAP.