X-Ray Micro Tomography of Water Absorption by Superabsorbent Polymers in Mortar

Book chapter (2020)

Authors

C. Romero Rodriguez Materials and Environment - CEG
Maxim Deprez Universiteit Gent
F. França de Mendonça Filho Materials and Environment - CEG
Stefanie van Offenwert Universiteit Gent
Veerle Cnudde Universiteit Utrecht, Universiteit Gent
E. Schlangen Materials and Environment - CEG
B. Šavija Materials and Environment - CEG
Research Group
Materials and Environment (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 C. Romero Rodriguez, Maxim Deprez, F. França de Mendonça Filho, Stefanie van Offenwert, Veerle Cnudde, E. Schlangen, B. Šavija
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33342-3_4
Mortar SAP Concrete durability X-ray micro computed tomography
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Materials- Mechanics- Management & Design

Research Group

Materials and Environment

Abstract

Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) have been recently subject of investigation as smart admixtures for cement-based materials. The properties of these polymers enable their use for internal curing, increasing freeze/thaw resistance, boosting autogenous self-healing and providing a crack self-sealing effect in cementitious composites. Except for the earliest application, the functioning of these beneficial effects invloves the absorption by the polymers of ingress water in the hardened cementitious matrix and later release, as well as their capacity to complete multiple absorption/desorption cycles. In this work, the absorption of water in mortar with superabsorbent polymers is monitored during the first 60 min of absorption through micro-CT. The experimental series included the presence of cracks. The registration and differentiation of sub-minute (18 s) scans enabled the individuation of bulk water content distribution in the mortar with a resolution of 55 μm. The swollen volume of SAP could also be quantified and studied in time. The results point out that although embedded SAP absorb water from the matrix, this absorption is slow and reduced with respect to water absorption during mixing for the used SAP. Same effect is observed for SAP in the cracks.