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. 2023 Jul 17;16(14):5052.
doi: 10.3390/ma16145052.

The Effects of Crystalline Admixture on the Self-Healing Performance and Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Internally Added Superabsorbent Polymer

Guang-Zhu Zhang  1 , Cen Liu  1 , Xiang Ma  1 , Xiao-Kun Yu  1
Affiliations

The Effects of Crystalline Admixture on the Self-Healing Performance and Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Internally Added Superabsorbent Polymer

Guang-Zhu Zhang et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Crystalline admixture (CA) can be incorporated into concrete to achieve self-healing of concrete cracks. In this study, both CA and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) were used as self-healing agents to investigate the effects of CA on the self-healing performance and mechanical properties of mortar with internally added SAP at different self-healing ages. The healing effect of cracks in mortar is assessed by crack observation and impermeability. The structure and composition of the filler in the cracks were analyzed by microscopic experiment. The experimental results indicate that CA enhances the healing of cracks in mortar specimens. The chemical reactions of CA primarily contribute to significantly improving the early-age crack-healing ability of the specimens, and the water absorption and expansion ability as well as the internal curing effect of SAP also facilitate the crack-healing process. Increasing the CA content leads to an increase in the Ca/Si ratio of C-S-H, causing a transition from a layered structure to a more compact needle-like structure. When 4% CA was added to the mortar, it resulted in an adequate formation of needle-like C-S-H structures, which eventually penetrate and fill the pits formed by SAP, compensating for the strength loss caused by SAP.

Keywords: crack; crystalline admixture; mortar; self-healing; superabsorbent polymer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Crack preparation diagram: (a) schematic diagram and (b) device diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Water absorption test setup diagram.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The compressive strength of the specimen at the curing ages of 3, 7, and 28 days.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The ultimate compressive strength of the specimen after 28 days of curing and the compressive recovery strength after 28 days of crack healing.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The healing effect on the surface of the cracks of the specimen at the healing ages of 0, 7, 28, and 90 days.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The crack-healing rates of the specimens at the healing ages of 0, 7, 28, and 90 days.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The water absorption rate of the specimen at the healing age of 28 days.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM images of the fillers at the crack of the specimens at the age of 28 days of healing: (a) Control, (b) SAP, (c) SCA2, and (d) SCA4.
Figure 9
Figure 9
XRD pattern of the filler at the crack of the specimen after 28 days of healing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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