Superabsorbent polymers to mitigate plastic drying shrinkage in a cement paste as studied by NMR

At early ages, a problem of plastic shrinkage can arise when a cement paste is subjected to harsh drying conditions during hardening. SuperAbsorbent Polymers (SAPs) are a promising admixture to mitigate shrinkage in cement pastes. By introducing internal curing by means of the stored mixing water in the SAPs, the plastic shrinkage can be partially mitigated, next to the mitigation of autogenous shrinkage during setting of the cement paste. The...