Application of self-curing concrete method using polyethylene glycol

Abstract

In this investigation the method of self-curing of concrete is applied using polyethylene glycol (PEG 400), with the aim of proposing an innovative alternative of curing concrete that suppresses the traditional external curing of the concrete indicated in ASTM C31, in order to obtain expected compression strength results, observing the development of concrete hydration processes. The experimental campaign included the production of 157 cylindrical specimens of dimensions 100×200 mm and 18 beams of dimensions 150×150×500 mm. Water-cement (w/c) ratios =0.70, 0.60 and 0.45 and strength tests at 7, 14 and 28 days were considered. Dosages of PEG 400 were used in 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of the cement weight for the determination of the dosage that provides the best compressive strength results. Concrete properties were characterized such as splitting tensile strength, modulus of rupture, and its microscopic composition was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Finally, it was obtained that at 28 days, the dosage of 1% of the cement weight for PEG 400, provides the most satisfactory results of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture for w/c = 0.70, 0.60 and 0.45.