M.Geetha et al.

/ International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)

COMPARITIVE STUDY OF STRENGTH

AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF
POLYMERIC MATERIALS AS SELF
CURING AGENTS
M.Geetha
Principal i/c, CSI Polytechnic College
Salem -636007, India

Dr.R.Malathy
Principal, Excel Engineering College,
Komarapalyam, Namakkal 637 303, India

ABSTRACT
This paper compares the strength and durability properties of different grades of concrete when added with
polymeric materials with out any external curing for the concrete. The results tabulated and compared with the
use of bar diagram and line diagram so as to have a schematic representation of the results. The grades of
concrete used were M20, M30 and M40.

Keywords: Split tensile strength, Cylinder compressive strength, Acid resistance, Sea water resistance,
Accelerated corrosion test.

1. Introduction
Conventional curing procedures of water ponding, as used for drying shrinkage are not effective in the case of
autogenous shrinkage. They may eliminate the autogenous shrinkage in small cross sections only because the
penetration of water from the external surface is limited. Moreover, external curing might be difficult to apply to
some surfaces.. In view of this limitation, different strategies have been developed in recent years, based on the
use of internal water reservoirs; one strategy which has been investigated more extensively is based on the use
of light weight aggregates, while the other is based on the use of water absorbing polymers. Both water
saturated porous aggregates and water saturated polymers are able to act as internal reservoirs, providing a
source of curing of curing water to the paste volume in their vicinity.

Internal curing refers to the time-dependent improvement of concrete strength due to the gradual
release of water from aggregate, in which it was absorbed before mixing, to the cement particle to allow
continued hydration. Internal curing refers to the process by which the hydration of cement occurs because of
the availability of additional internal water that is not part of the mixing water. The additional internal water is
typically supplied by using relatively small amounts of saturated, light weight, fine aggregates or super
absorbent polymer particles in the concrete. Benefits of internal curing include increased hydration and strength
development, reduced autogenous shrinkage and cracking, reduced permeability and increased durability. The
impact of internal curing begins immediately with the initial hydration of the cement. With benefits that are
observed at ages as early as 2 days. Internal curing is especially beneficial in low water cement ratio (w/c)
concretes because of the chemical shrinkage that accompanies Portland cement hydration and the low
permeability of the calcium silicate hydrates. Because the water that is chemically bound and absorbed by the
cement hydration products has a specific volume less than that of bulk water, a hydrating cement paste will
imbibe water 9 about 0.07g water/ g cement) from an available source. While in higher w/c concretes, this
water can be and often is supplied by external curing, in low w/c concretes; the permeability of the concrete
quickly becomes too low to allow the effective transfer of water from the external surface to the concrete
interior. This is one of the justifications for internal curing. Additional water that can be distributed somewhat
uniformly throughout the concrete will be more readily able to reach un hydrated cement. Interest is being
shown to incorporate internal curing as a tool to reduce cracking, especially in pavements. It’s often not
possible to provide enough curing water from a pavement’s surface at a sufficient rate to satisfy the ongoing
chemical shrinkage. Internal curing distributes extra water throughout the entire microstructure, thus
maintaining saturation of the cement paste during hydration.

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2. 1. Objectives
Curing means maintaining a satisfactory moisture content and temperature in concrete in
Order to achieve the desired strength and hardness. Drying removes the water needed for hydration. Without
adequate water and due to insufficient hydration, concrete tends to be weak. In out door concreting, temperature,
humidity, wind, velocity etc., contribute to the evaporation loss of water. Properly cured concrete has better
durability and better surface hardness and is less permeable.

The prevention of loss of moisture from concrete is important not only from the strength development
point of view but also from that of prevention of plastic shrinkage, decrease in permeability and improvement of
resistance to abrasion. Loss in 28 day strength seems to be directly related to loss of moisture during the first
three days. It is evident that 5 % loss in moisture leads to nearly 75 % loss in strength. Hence continuous curing
is to be done for the first three days. Intermittent curing seems to be even worse than no curing at all. By proper
curing the durability & impermeability of concrete are increased and shrinkage reduced. The resistance of
concrete to abrasion is considerably increased by proper curing.

Now a day the level of water table is going down day by day. If water is to be purchased for
construction works, the cost of construction goes much higher. Also, the concreting works done at heights and
in sloped roofs, (slope of roof is too steep) curing is very difficult. Where thickness of concreting is larger, the
percolation of water in the concrete, especially in case of high strength concrete is difficult.

Internal curing is used as a substitute to overcome such problems. One of the methods to overcome
such problems faced by external curing is the use of light weight aggregate. The other methods are the use of
water absorbent polymers (polyethylene glycol and paraffin wax) and wood derived materials. The
disadvantageous being, Light weight aggregate can negatively impact strength and can lead to variability in
performance. Polyethylene glycol is more controllable but is relatively expensive compared to light weight
aggregate. Wood derived materials may be an alternative to other internal curing materials, while providing
consistency at a lower cost but only 50% strength is reached and micro cracks are introduced by wood derived
materials.

2.2 Materials
Cement
Portland Pozzolana cement available in local market was used in the investigation.
Coarse Aggregate
Crushed angular granite metal of 20mm size from a local source was used as Coarse aggregate. Its
specific gravity and fineness modulus were 2.73 and 6.97 respectively.
Fine Aggregate
River sand was used as fine aggregate. Its specific gravity and fineness modulus were 2.57 and 2.93
respectively.
Admixture
The extract from Spinacia oleracea L(Palak greens) @ 0.6%- 0.8 % weight of cement is added as
admixture (green) to the concrete while preparing the concrete. Erukkampal at – 0.2 % to 0.4 % and
Polyethylelne at 0.2- 0.4 % of cement.

3.0 Tests Conducted

3. 1 Splitting tensile strength
This is an indirect test to determine the tensile strength of cylindrical specimens. Splitting tensile
strength tests were carried out on cylinder specimens of size 150 mm diameter and 300 mm length at the age of
28 days curing, using AIMIL compression testing machine of 3000 KN capacity as per BIS : 5816 - 1970 . To
avoid the direct load on the specimen, the cylindrical specimens were kept below the wooden strips. The load
was applied gradually till the specimens split and readings were noted. The test set up for the splitting tensile
strength on the cylinder specimen, with the wooden strips to avoid the direct load on the specimen is shown in
Figure 1. Patterns of typical splitting tensile failure mode shapes of cylinder specimens are shown in Figure 2.
The splitting tensile strength has been calculated using the following formula:

ft 2P/ πDL
ft splitting tensile strength of the specimen in MPa
P maximum load in N applied to the specimen
D measured diameter of the specimen in mm
L measured length of the specimen in mm

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Figure 1 Test set up for splitting tensile strength on cylinder specimen

Figure 2 Patterns of typical splitting tensile failure mode shapes of cylinder specimens

3.2 Cylinder compressive strength

Cylinder compressive strength tests were carried out on cylinder specimens of size 150 mm diameter
and 300 mm height at the age of 28 days curing, using AIMIL compression testing machine of 3000 KN
capacity as per BIS :516-1959.The test set up for compression strength on cylinder specimen is shown in Figure
3.

Figure 3 Compression test on cylinder specimen in – Progress

3.3 Acid resistance

The acid resistance tests were carried out on 150 mm size cube specimens at the age of 28 days curing.
The cube specimens were weighed and immersed in water diluted with one percent by weight of sulphuric acid
for 45 days continuously. Then the specimens were taken out from the acid water and the surfaces of the
cubes were cleaned. Then, the weight and the compressive strengths of the specimens were found out and the
average percentage of loss of weight and compressive strengths were calculated.

3.4 Sea water resistance

When concrete is exposed to marine environment, it leads to deterioration of concrete as a result of
combined effects of chemical action of sea water constituents on cement hydration products. The deterioration
of concrete can be measured in terms of loss of weight and compressive strength.

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The sea water resistance tests were carried out on 150 mm size cube specimens at the age of 28 days
curing. The cube specimens were weighed and immersed in water diluted with three percent sodium hydroxide
by weight of water for 45 days continuously. Then the specimens were taken out from the salt water and the
surfaces of the cubes were cleaned. Then, the weight and compressive strengths of the specimens were found
out and the average percentage of loss of weight and compressive strengths were calculated.

3.5 Accelerated electrolytic corrosion

This is a non-standard test which helps to assess the material quality against rust expansion pressure by
chloride accumulation at the anode (rebar). The specimens comprising of cylinder with 100 mm diameter and
200 mm height. A 10 mm diameter for steel rod is centrally placed with 45 mm cover on all sides. The
embedded steel rod in the concrete specimen will act as anode and get corroded with passage of time, producing
iron oxides around the steel rod which will in turn produce large pressure on surrounding concrete. When this
pressure exceeds the tensile strength of concrete, the concrete gets cracked.

At the age of 28 days, the specimens were immersed in three percent sodium chloride solution and the
embedded rebars were treated as anode, an external stainless steel electrode serving as cathode by applying
a constant positive potential of 30 Volts to this system from a DC source. The variation of current was recorded
with time. A sharp rise in current indicates the corrosion and cracking of the concrete is usually visible
thereafter. The time taken for initiation of first crack can be considered as a measure of their resistance against
chloride permeability and reinforcement corrosion. After cracking, the specimens were taken out, visually
inspected, and carefully split open to assess the corroded steel rod. The reinforcement bars were then cleaned as
per ASTM G1 by dipping it in Clark’s solution (HCl of specific gravity 1.19 litre + antimony trioxide 20 gm +
stannous chloride 50 gm) for 25 minutes. Each bar was then weighed again to the accuracy of 0.1 mg to find out
the change in weight. The specimens for accelerated electrolytic corrosion test are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Test specimens for accelerated electrolytic corrosion

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Split Tensile Strength

Table 1: Split tensile strength of concrete

The split tensile strength is found higher in the cubes added with plalak greens extract and externally cured for
one day. The strength is higher than the normal relation ft 28 =0.08 fck1.04
Next to that is that of palak greens.

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4.2 Cylinder compressive strength

Table 2: Cylinder Compressive strength of concrete

The minimum loss of strength is found in the cubes added with palak greens extract and externally
cured for one day. The cylinder compressive strength is higher than the normal value of 0.8fck .Next higher
strength is in cubes with palak greens.

4.3 Acid resistance

Table 3: Acid resistance of concrete

The acid resistance capacity of the concrete increases with grade of concrete. The minimum loss of
strength is found in the concrete added with extract of palak greens and externally cured for 1 day and the next
minimum loss of strength is found for the concrete added with extract of palak greens.

4.4 Sea water resistance

Table 4: Sea water resistance of concrete

The minimum loss of strength is found in the cubes added with plalak greens extract and externally
cured for one day, next to that are the cubes palak greens

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4.5 Accelerated corrosion of concrete

Table 5: Accelerated corrosion of concrete

The percentage loss of weight of the bar after the test is the minimum in cubes with palak greens with
one day curing.

5. Conclusion

Of the above tests conducted , the strength as well as the durability property holds good for the cubes
with palak green with one day curing and with out external curing. Hence the strength and durability properties
of internally cured concrete with palak greens prove to be best among the three alternatives and prove to be the
best when compared to external curing. While considering the internal curing with that of external curing, the
cost of internal curing proves to be cheaper when compared with that of external curing.

6. References

[1] Bentz, D.P, Snyder, K. A., Protected paste volume in concrete – Extension to internal curing using saturated lightweight fine
aggregate, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 29, pp. 1863-1867 (1999).
[2] Experimental observation of internal water curing of concrete Pietro Lura- Ole Mejlhede Jensen Shin-Ichi Igarashi
[3] Self curing concrete : Water retention , hydration and moisture transport A.S.El-Dieb.
[4] Influence of Micro structure on the Physical Properties of Self Curing of Concrete : ACI Materials Journal –Sep Oct 1996 Ravindra K
Dhir, Peter C Hawlett and Thomas D Dyer.
[5] Internal water curing with Liapor aggregates Heron Vol 50 No 1 (2005) Pietro Lura BYG DTU – Department of Civil Engineering
Technical University of Denmark & Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geo Sciences.
[6] The use of Light weight fines for the Internal curing of concrete : North East Solite corporation Aug 2002.
[7] Current and future trends in the application of internal curing of concrete John W Roberts, Northeast Solite Corporation , Richmond,
Virginia

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