STUDY ON ABSORBENCY OF SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER IN WATER AND CEMENT PORE FLUID AND ITS INCORPORATION IN CEMENT MORTAR

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) were studied here as an internal curing agent in mitigating drying shrinkage of high strength concrete or mortar. Cement pastes and mortars with water to cement ratio 0.26 were studied by incorporating with and without SAP. The absorption potential of SAP was determined by tea bag test in both pore fluid and water. Using this absorption capacity the amount of SAP added to the concrete was calculated. Keeping SAP and extra water amount stable, the Superplasticizer dosage was adjusted to obtain the essential workability. In order to improve the mechanical properties silica fume was added by various percentages of cement (0%, 10%, 15%, 20 %). Moreover internal curing could effectively reduce the drying shrinkage. When compared to conventional curing concrete drying shrinkage was found to be less in internal curing mortars.