PERFORMANCE OF INTERNAL CURING CONCRETE USING SAP AS AN INTERNAL CURING AGENT
Main article
Abstract
This study investigates the performance of internal curing concrete (C-S) incorporating superabsorbent polymers (SAP), compared to ordinary concrete (C). Standard specimens —150 mm cubes for compressive strength and 150 × 150 × 550 mm prisms for flexural strength— were tested in accordance with GB/T 50081-2019. The internal curing concrete (C-S) exhibited superior compressive strength, increasing by 6.1 N/mm² from 7 to 14 days and by 1.9 N/mm² from 14 to 28 days, compared to increases of 4.1 N/mm² and 2.3 N/mm² for the, respectively, for ordinary concrete (C). At 28 days, the flexural strength of internal curing concrete (C-S)
exceeded that of ordinary concrete (C) by 0.6 N/mm² (17.6%). These improvements are attributed to the sustained moisture supply provided by the SAP, which promotes calcium silicate hydrate formation and reduces
microcracks caused by autogenous shrinkage. Internal curing concrete shows potential for use in high temperature or low-humidity environments, enhancing durability under challenging conditions. However, only
one type of SAP was tested, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Future research should examine various SAP types and assess long-term durability. This study highlights SAP-based internal curing as a sustainable
approach for producing high-performance concrete, contributing to advancements in civil engineering applications
