Title: Properties of Methacrylic Water-Soluable Polymer as a Superplasticicer for Ultra High-Strength Concrete

Author(s): M. Kinoshita, T. Suzuki, K. Soeda and T. Nawa

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 173

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 143-162

Keywords: Belite; heat of hydration, high-strength concrete; portland cement; silica fume; superplasticizers; workability

DOI: 10.14359/6182

Date: 9/1/1997

Abstract:
A technology to impart high fluidity to concrete with an extremely low W/C range of about 0.2 is required, in order to place ultra high- strength concrete with a compressive strength of over 100 MPa. For this purpose, the authers have developed a methacrylic water- soluble polymer as a superplasticizer (SSP) that imparts adequate workability and excellent cement dispersing capability to concrete mixtures with low W/C. Also, the high cement content of ultra high- strength concrete containing normal portland cement leads to high concrete temperature due to heat of hydration, posing problems of thermal cracking and low long- term strength. In this study, the authers used a low- heat, belite- rich portland cement recently developed in Japan, together with powder silica fume to produce ultra high- strength concrete containing the SSP with a low water- binder ratio of approximately 0.2. As a result, the belite-rich portland cement was foud to reduce the adiabatic temperature rise without causing set retardation when compared with normal portland cement. In addition, the concrete showed high fluidity as well as a high long- term compressive strength of over 150 MPa. These results suggest that the SSP is highly compatible with low- heat cement and is very effective in producing high-performance concrete when used in combination with this type of binder.