Effect of Shrinkage Reducing Admixture on Shrinkage and Crack Properties of Cement Based Materials

Abstract

In order to improve the dimensional stability of cement based materials, the effects of shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) dosage on the shrinkage and crack properties of cement based materials were investigated. The hydration process of the cement pastes was tracked and monitored by hydration calorimeter and adiabatic temperature rise apparatus respectively. The action mechanism of SRA on hydration process of the cement based materials was characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The shrinkage and crack results show that the ability of resist cracking of concrete can be effectively improved by SRA. The results of hydration calorimeter and adiabatic temperature rise indicate that the appear time of hydration temperature peak at early age was delayed and the development of hydration heat changed gently at later period by doped SRA. The results of DSC show that the release amount of hydration heat and the production of early calcium hydroxide can be delayed by SRA, however, there has no effects of SRA on the formation of cement hydration products like calcium hydroxide at the later period.