Effect of SRA on the Course of Hydration of Cement Composites

Abstract

Cement hydration is a chemical reaction that is associated with the development of hydration heat and changes in the volume of input components that transit from the solid and liquid phase to one homogeneous whole. In order to eliminate the volume changes already occurring during the hydration process, several principles can be applied, such as the use of active or inert admixtures as partial cement substitute or special shrinkage reducing additives. The experiment verifies the effect of anti-shrinkage additives on the course of hydration of cement pastes in terms of the development of hydration temperatures and elimination of volume changes of cement pastes. Volume changes will be monitored for the first 30 hours of cement mixing with water, i.e. in the time when the major changes occur due to this chemical reaction. Due to the expected hydration deceleration of the binder component by the effect of SRA, the impact of the use of these additives on the curing time of the composite and consequently on the mechanical parameters of the concrete will be verified.