Characterization of Polyacrylamide based Superabsorbent Polymers for potential use in PC Matrices with Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Abstract

This paper compares three types of polyacrylamide based Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) with different water absorption capacities for potential application in Portland cement composites. The analysed matrices contain Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) such as ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FA type F), silica fume (SF) and lime (NHL 5). SAPs were characterized in terms of shape, size and molecular structure by the Laser Diffraction, SEM, and the Raman Spectroscopy techniques. Kinetics and capacity of SAPs absorption in different environments (deionised water, PC solution and various PC-SCMs solutions) were evaluated by the tea-bag method. pH of all solutions was determined after 24 hours. The effect of different SCMs on SAPs sorption behaviour has been presented. The experimental results show that SAPs do not affect pH of cementitious solutions. However, SCMs addition reduces SAPs' absorption capacity and increase their desorption features. This is related not only to the type of SCM, but also to the level of substitution.