Long-Term Performance of Soybean-Based Concrete Surface Protectant under Laboratory Accelerated Aging Conditions

Abstract

Soy methyl ester-polystyrene (SME-PS) is an organic material derived from soybeans, which has proven to be an effective protectant for concrete surfaces. This study investigated the long-term performance of cement paste samples treated with SME-PS under laboratory accelerated aging conditions (AAC). The specimens were subjected to cyclic conditions: 8 h of UVA radiation (simulating solar radiation), followed by 6 h of darkness with water condensation and a high temperature of 40°C for 28 days. After the AAC exposure, the samples were immersed in a deicing salt solution, specifically a 29.8 wt. % calcium chloride solution, for 7 days. To evaluate the long-term behavior of SME-PS, a series of experiments, including visual observation, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (LT-DSC) was conducted. Visual observations revealed slight damage in SME-PS-treated samples after AAC exposure, while control samples experienced microcrack formations. SME-PS chemical compositions remained unaffected by AAC, in contrast to the control samples where a decrease in the quantity of calcium hydroxide and an increase in calcium carbonate content were observed as a result of carbonation during AAC exposure. LT-DSC results indicated that SME-PS-treated samples showed a significant reduction in the enthalpy of fusion associated with calcium oxychloride (CAOXY) formation, indicating that the SME-PS remained effective after AAC exposure, while control samples exhibited higher CAOXY enthalpy of fusion.