Fresh and Hardened Properties of Superabsorbent Polymer Concrete

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) have the ability to absorb large quantity of water and store it inside its body and then release the water when drought happen depending on this mechanism this polymers had been used in concrete to obtain some benefits, The most important of use it to minimize shrinkage that caused due to losing of water by providing internal moisture, this problem can be overcome, It is also used to improve curing (internal curing agent), enhancing freezing and thawing resistance and reduce permeability, This corresponds to effect on the concrete strength negatively or positively depending on the method of use. The aim of this research is to reach the optimum addition ratio of SAP to mortar concrete which gives the best strength results (where three different addition ratios of SAP were used 0.1, 0.4, and 0.7 % by weight of cement), as well as to make a simulation of the curing at site work, two different methods of curing were used, first one was immersed samples in water for one week and Then leave it in the normal atmosphere for the next 21 days and the second method was sealed curing by nylon bags for 28 days, And also test the effect of SAP on the workability of mixtures