Experimental study on improving the strength of concrete by using self-curing technic with Poly ethylene glycol and super absorbent polymer

Abstract

Increase in infrastructural projects demands the need for workable concrete in the 21st century. With the technological advancement there is a need for looking into an alternate solution to the current day problems in the construction sector. Shortage of water is also a concern in some of the places which demands for the utilization of a better substitute to water in concrete. Internal curing agents like Polyethylene Glycol (PEG400), ceramic and Super Absorbent Polymer are used extensively which would be beneficial for engineering and construction applications. Day by day increasing of waste from disposable diapers will give increase the waste generation and requires large space dumping. To overcome this diapers which are primarily worn by infants, and by children who are not yet potty trained or who experience bedwetting are used in the present study as a self-curing agent along with PEG 400. In this present study, influence of PEG and diaper polymer on the workability and compressive strength of the concrete was investigated. M40 grade of concrete has been adopted for the entire study. Compressive strength at 3, 7, 28 and 90 days was calculated for 150mm X 150mm X150mm cubes with the 1%PEG as a control mix and 1% PEG + varying ratios of 1% to 10% of diaper polymer with 5% interval. It was observed that workability increased with the addition of diaper polymer and the strength decreased.