What happens when SuperPlasticizer is added to concrete
Every substance in concrete having average particle size
less than 125 microns in known as “powder”.
If we examine finely grounded powder when it comes in
contact with water, we will see flocculation of particles which means that in
the presence of water some kind of charge get induced on various clinker
phases. They get activated and start attracting. In order to break this
flocculation and make paste more workable we can add more water.
How Superplasticizer Work ?
In case of cement powder, positive charge gets activated on
aluminate phases while negative charge gets activated on silicate phases. SP
(superplasticizer) are essential
negatively charged particles, Therefore upon addition of superplasticizers,
aluminate phases will get negatively charged and negative charge of silicate
phase will increase even further. Now as both phases become negatively charged
they will start repelling each other instead of attracting causing cement
particles to uniformly distribute in the mix.
It can be therefore stated that presence of SPs not only
increases the fluidity of the mix but it also makes it more durable as cement
particles are now well dispersed.
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