Impermeability

The durability of concrete is essentially determined by its

resistance against the penetration of liquid or gaseous
pollutants, i.e. the more dense the hardened cement paste, the
more durable is the concrete.

Impermeability influencing factors:

Porosity (kind and quantity)
Water/ cement ratio
Mix design
Processing on site
Cracks

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Impermeability
Porosity- different kinds of pores:

Gel pores
Size 2 to 4 x 10-6 mm content: ca. 26 %
Description: - Gel pores are merged in the cement stone
- Have no influence on impermeability
- The quantity depends on the cement content and
degree of hydration

Capillary pores
Size 10-5 to 10-3 mm content: dependent on w/c
ratio
Description: - Capillary pores are formed by overdosed water
- Have a negative influence on impermeability
- The quantity depends on the water/cement ratio

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Impermeability
Porosity- different kinds of pores:

Entrained air voids

Size 0.02 to 0.30 mm content: dependent on
dosage
Description: - Are artificially introduced
- Have a positive influence on impermeability
(interruption of the capillaries)
- The quantity depends on the dosage of air
entrainers

Compaction pores
Size 0.5 to 10 mm content: dependent on
processing
Description: - Develop due to insufficient (wrong) compaction
- Have a strong negative influence on impermeability

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Impermeability
Porosity vs. water/cement ratio:

Content of capillary water in % of

Content of capillary water at rising w/c ratio
the cement stone volume 70

60 ∆ between w/c 0.5

and 0.6 ca. 10%!
50

40

30

20

10

0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5

w/c ratio

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Impermeability
Impermeability- influence of the w/c ratio:

•In cement stone bound water

•Capillary water

Surface moisture (relevant for w/c ratio)

Adsorption (not relevant for w/c ratio)

Total moisture of the aggregates

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Impermeability
Impermeability- influence of the concrete mix design

Avoid high water/cement ratios

⇒ use of superplasticizer:
Sika® ViscoCrete®
Sikament®
SikaPlast®
• Selection of a suitable cement
• Selection of the right cement quantity
• Guarantee a good workability
• Application of microsilica: SikaFume®

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Impermeability
Impermeability- influence of cracks

Shrinkage cracks
Static cracks:
Are usually construction penetrating cracks and are not
concrete technology based

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