In Situ Sustained-Release Microcapsules to Improve the Impermeability of Cement Mortars: Preparation and Characterization
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 6
Abstract
Sustained-release microcapsules provide a promising way to improve the curing efficiency and impermeability of cement-based composites. In this study, with potassium persulfate (KPS) as the core and polypyrrole (Ppy)/glycerol as the shell, KPS/Ppy microcapsules with excellent sustained-release performance were prepared using emulsion polymerization. The chemical structure, elemental composition, thermal stability, microstructure, and release properties of microcapsules were characterized by Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Laser Particle Sizing, and Conductivity Testing. Results indicate that the release characteristics of the microcapsules could be controlled by changing the content of polypyrrole/glycerol as well as the synthesis time, and a complete release time of 25 h could be realized with 1.43 wt% polypyrrole/glycerol synthesized for 6 h, which can meet the requirement that the polymerization is continually initiated to form a plugging structure after the initial hydration reaction of the cement mortar to realize the impermeability. Additionally, the sustained-release microcapsules, monomers, and coupling agents were mixed to prepare the cement mortar, which revealed significantly improved impermeability with no obvious loss of the compressive strength. Therefore, the prepared microcapsules have tunable sustained-release characteristics, which could be applied in cement-based composites for various requirements.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China (2020YFC1910205).
References
Adhikary, S. K., D. K. Ashish, and Ž. Rudžionis. 2021. “Expanded glass as light-weight aggregate in concrete—A review.” J. Cleaner Prod. 313 (Sep): 127848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127848.
Akcay, B., and M. A. Tasdemir. 2010. “Effects of distribution of lightweight aggregates on internal curing of concrete.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 32 (8): 611–616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2010.07.003.
Almeshal, I., B. A. Tayeh, R. Alyousef, H. Alabduljabbar, A. Mustafa Mohamed, and A. Alaskar. 2020. “Use of recycled plastic as fine aggregate in cementitious composites: A review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 253 (Aug): 119146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119146.
Alqahtani, F. K., and I. Zafar. 2021. “Plastic-based sustainable synthetic aggregate in Green Lightweight concrete—A review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 292 (Jul): 123321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123321.
Ardalan, R. B., A. Joshaghani, and R. D. Hooton. 2017. “Workability retention and compressive strength of self-compacting concrete incorporating pumice powder and silica fume.” Constr. Build. Mater. 134 (Mar): 116–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.12.090.
Azarijafari, H., A. Kazemian, M. Rahimi, and A. Yahia. 2016. “Effects of pre-soaked super absorbent polymers on fresh and hardened properties of self-consolidating lightweight concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 113 (Jun): 215–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.03.010.
Bian, X., L. Zeng, Y. Deng, and X. Li. 2018. “The role of superabsorbent polymer on strength and microstructure development in cemented dredged clay with high water content.” Polymers 10 (10): 1069. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10101069.
Craeye, B., M. Geirnaert, and G. D. Schutter. 2011. “Super absorbing polymers as an internal curing agent for mitigation of early-age cracking of high-performance concrete bridge decks.” Constr. Build. Mater. 25 (1): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.06.063.
Craeye, B., T. Tielemans, G. Lauwereijssens, and J. Stoop. 2012. “Effect of super absorbing polymers on the freeze–thaw resistance of coloured concrete roads.” Road Mater. Pavement Des. 14 (1): 90–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2012.743670.
Du, W., R. Lin, and Q. Liu. 2021. “Investigation of isophorone diisocyanate microcapsules to improve self-healing properties and sulfate resistance of concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 300 (Sep): 124438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124438.
Ghourchian, S., M. Wyrzykowski, P. Lura, M. Shekarchi, and B. Ahmadi. 2013. “An investigation on the use of zeolite aggregates for internal curing of concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 40 (Mar): 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.10.009.
Han, T., X. Wang, D. Li, D. Li, F. Xing, and N. Han. 2020. “Impermeability characteristics of cementitious materials with self-healing based on epoxy/urea-formaldehyde microcapsules using an immersion test.” Constr. Build. Mater. 259 (Oct): 119782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119782.
Justs, J., M. Wyrzykowski, D. Bajare, and P. Lura. 2015. “Internal curing by superabsorbent polymers in ultra-high performance concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 76 (May): 82–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.05.005.
Kim, B.-J., S.-G. Oh, M.-G. Han, and S.-S. Im. 2000. “Preparation of polyaniline nanoparticles in micellar solutions as polymerization medium.” Langmuir 16 (14): 5841–5845. https://doi.org/10.1021/la9915320.
Li, H., C. Tang, J. Xiong, and S. Li. 2005. “The impermeability mechanism of self-compacting water proof concrete.” J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed. 23 (1): 121–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-006-1121-y.
Li, J., Z. Wu, C. Shi, Q. Yuan, and Z. Zhang. 2020. “Durability of ultra-high performance concrete—A review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 255 (Sep): 119296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119296.
Lu, J.-X., P. Shen, H. A. Ali, and C. S. Poon. 2021. “Development of high performance lightweight concrete using ultra high performance cementitious composite and different lightweight aggregates.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 124 (Nov): 104277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104277.
Mignon, A., D. Snoeck, K. D’Halluin, L. Balcaen, F. Vanhaecke, P. Dubruel, S. V. Vlierberghe, and N. D. Belie. 2016. “Alginate biopolymers: Counteracting the impact of superabsorbent polymers on mortar strength.” Constr. Build. Mater. 110 (May): 169–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.02.033.
Nadesan, M. S., and P. Dinakar. 2017. “Structural concrete using sintered flyash lightweight aggregate: A review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 154 (Nov): 928–944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.08.005.
Ofuyatan, O. M., A. G. Adeniyi, D. Ijie, J. O. Ighalo, and J. Oluwafemi. 2020. “Development of high-performance self compacting concrete using eggshell powder and blast furnace slag as partial cement replacement.” Constr. Build. Mater. 256 (Sep): 119–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119403.
Shen, D., J. Jiang, M. Zhang, P. Yao, and G. Jiang. 2018. “Tensile creep and cracking potential of high performance concrete internally cured with super absorbent polymers at early age.” Constr. Build. Mater. 165 (Mar): 451–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.136.
Shen, D., T. Wang, Y. Chen, M. Wang, and G. Jiang. 2015. “Effect of internal curing with super absorbent polymers on the relative humidity of early-age concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 99 (Nov): 246–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.08.042.
Song, X. F., and T. S. He. 2012. “Resistance to carbonation of concrete treated by superabsorbent resin synthesized in situ.” Adv. Mater. Res. 374–377 (Oct): 1872–1876. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.374-377.1872.
Tamil, S. M., A. K. Dasarathy, and I. S. Ponkumar. 2021. “Mechanical properties on light weight aggregate concrete using high density polyethylene granules.” Mater. Today: Proc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.04.302.
Urgessa, G., K.-B. Choi, and J. Yeon. 2018. “Internal relative humidity, autogenous shrinkage, and strength of cement mortar modified with superabsorbent polymers.” Polymers 10 (10): 1074. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10101074.
Wang, X. F., J. H. Zhang, W. Zhao, R. Han, N. X. Han, and F. Xing. 2018. “Permeability and pore structure of microcapsule-based self-healing cementitious composite.” Constr. Build. Mater. 165 (Mar): 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.008.
Wehbe, Y., and A. Ghahremaninezhad. 2017. “Combined effect of shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRA) and superabsorbent polymers (SAP) on the autogenous shrinkage, hydration and properties of cementitious materials.” Constr. Build. Mater. 138 (May): 151–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.12.206.
Wu, L., N. Farzadnia, C. Shi, Z. Zhang, and H. Wang. 2017. “Autogenous shrinkage of high performance concrete: A review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 149 (Sep): 62–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.05.064.
Yang, P., X. Gao, S. Wang, J.-F. Su, and L.-Q. Wang. 2022. “Novel waterproof bituminous coating using self-healing microcapsules containing ultraviolet light curing agent.” Constr. Build. Mater. 329 (Apr): 127189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127189.
Yang, S., and L. Wang. 2017. “Effect of internal curing on characteristics of self-compacting concrete by using fine and coarse lightweight aggregates.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 29 (10): 04017186. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002044.
Yi, Y., D. Zhu, S. Guo, Z. Zhang, and C. Shi. 2020. “A review on the deterioration and approaches to enhance the durability of concrete in the marine environment.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 113 (Oct): 103695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103695.
Zhang, J., X. Ding, and Q. Zhao. 2017. “Experimental and numerical investigation of scattering gravels on the surface bond strength of self-compacting concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 145 (Aug): 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.219.
Zhang, W., Q. Zheng, A. Ashour, and B. Han. 2020. “Self-healing cement concrete composites for resilient infrastructures: A review.” Composites, Part B 189 (May): 107892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.107892.
Zheng, Y., Y. Zhang, and P. Zhang. 2021. “Methods for improving the durability of recycled aggregate concrete: A review.” J. Mater. Res. Technol. 15 (Nov): 6367–6386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.11.085.
Zuo, J., B. Dong, F. Xing, C. Luo, J. Zhan, and L. Wang. 2021. “Preparation and behavior of sustained-release corrosion inhibitor microcapsules by centrifugation-coating method.” Powder Technol. 389 (Sep): 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2021.04.098.
Zuo, M., T. Liu, J. Han, Y. Tang, F. Yao, Y. Yuan, and Z. Qian. 2014. “Preparation and characterization of microcapsules containing ammonium persulfate as core by in situ polymerization.” Chem. Eng. J. 249 (Aug): 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.03.041.
Zuo, M., L. Zhang, X. Yuan, Y. Li, and T. Liu. 2017. “A facile strategy to improve the encapsulation efficiency of polymer microcapsules containing water-soluble salt cores.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 134 (44): 45294. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.45294.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 6 • June 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 21, 2022
Accepted: Sep 30, 2022
Published online: Mar 24, 2023
Published in print: Jun 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Aug 24, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.