Abstract
The purpose of this study is to understand the complex mechanisms through which the active ingredients of crystalline waterproofing agents change the microstructure of cement-based materials. Microstructural and phase characterization are carried out on cement pastes modified with waterproofing agents through thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray microcomputed tomography. Two types are investigated—one that is applied onto the surface of existing concrete and another that is incorporated as an admixture into the fresh mix. Samples treated with the waterproofing agents are compared with a sample cured in sodium carbonate solution, one of the key active ingredients. Results indicate that both types of waterproofing agents lead to formation of calcium carbonate. The surface treatment type forms a dense coating, with little penetration into the matrix, whereas the admixture type leads to a measurable decrease in porosity throughout. The sample cured in sodium carbonate solution leads to an increase in porosity due to decalcification shrinkage, which underscores the importance of controlling sodium carbonate content to avoid excessive carbonation.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge RPM Belgium Vandex for financial support, materials, and technical consultation. Also, the authors acknowledge the technical support by the staff of Columbia University’s Carleton Laboratory and City University of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center (CUNY ASRC).
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 31 • Issue 9 • September 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 10, 2018
Accepted: Jan 14, 2019
Published online: Jun 17, 2019
Published in print: Sep 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Nov 17, 2019
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