Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Superplasticizers01:30

Superplasticizers

129
Superplasticizers are advanced admixtures that enhance the workability of concrete by lowering the water content without compromising the strength of the material. These substances are highly effective water reducers, improving concrete flow, making it easier to work with, and enabling concrete to reach inaccessible areas or densely reinforced sections without mechanical vibration. The key components in superplasticizers are either sulfonated melamine or naphthalene formaldehyde condensates,...
129
Hydration of Cement01:24

Hydration of Cement

439
Hydration of cement is a chemical reaction between cement particles and water. This process occurs primarily through two mechanisms: through-solution and topochemical. In the through-solution process, anhydrous compounds dissolve into their constituents, hydrates form in the solution, and then precipitate from the supersaturated solution. The topochemical process involves solid-state reactions at the cement particle surface. The through-solution process dominates the topochemical process at the...
439
Mortar01:29

Mortar

358
Mortar, a mixture of Portland cement, hydrated lime, sand, and water, is a crucial binding material in construction. Its primary function is to join masonry units together, filling gaps and ensuring a uniform distribution of weight across the structure. This helps in preventing potential weaknesses. Mortar also serves as a protective barrier against environmental elements such as water and wind, thereby safeguarding the interior of the structure. It also compensates for surface irregularities...
358
Mortar Properties01:17

Mortar Properties

219
Mortar properties encompass a range of characteristics crucial for construction and masonry work, including workability, water retention, bond strength, durability, compressive strength, volume change, and appearance. Workability refers to mortar's ability to be easily applied and manipulated without sagging or falling off surfaces, which is important for efficient masonry unit placement and alignment. Water retention is essential to prevent the mortar from losing moisture too quickly to...
219
Porosity in Cement Paste01:18

Porosity in Cement Paste

258
The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
258
Additives and Fillers in Concrete01:29

Additives and Fillers in Concrete

152
Additives and fillers are integral to enhancing the properties of concrete. Pozzolans and blast-furnace slag are additives or admixtures due to their reactions with calcium hydroxide released during cement hydration. Fillers, which are finely ground and similar in fineness to Portland cement, improve concrete attributes such as workability density, and reduce capillary bleeding or cracking. Some fillers possess hydraulic properties or participate in benign reactions within the cement paste.
The...
152

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Binderless Thermal Insulation Boards from Rapeseed Straw: Optimization and Performance Analysis.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

From Waste to Binder: Alkali Activation of Blended Brick and Metakaolin Residues for Design of Circular Construction Materials.

Polymers·2025
Same author

Assessment of Clayey Freshwater Sediments as Suitable Precursors for Alkaline Activation.

Polymers·2024
Same author

Ecotoxicity of Caffeine as a Bio-Protective Component of Flax-Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy-Composite Building Material.

Polymers·2023
Same author

Experimental and Environmental Analysis of High-Strength Geopolymer Based on Waste Bricks and Blast Furnace Slag.

Polymers·2023
Same author

Structural Performance of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Reinforced by Glass or Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars.

Polymers·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation MICP by Immersion
06:27

Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation MICP by Immersion

Published on: September 12, 2019

9.7K

Microstructure Formation of Cement Mortars Modified by Superabsorbent Polymers.

Jan Fořt1,2, Jiří Šál1,2, Martin Böhm1

  • 1Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague, Czech Republic.

Polymers
|October 23, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) reduce shrinkage in cement but can negatively impact early strength. Later, SAPs enhance mechanical strength by altering material porosity and creating denser structures.

Keywords:
cement mortarmechanical strengthporosityscanning electron microscopyshrinkagesuperabsorbent polymer

More Related Videos

Preparation of Aligned Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite and Its Flexural Behavior
11:07

Preparation of Aligned Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite and Its Flexural Behavior

Published on: June 27, 2018

11.3K
Production and Analysis of Sporosarcina pasteurii Biocement Bricks Using Custom 3D-Printed Molds for Unconfined Compression Tests
05:38

Production and Analysis of Sporosarcina pasteurii Biocement Bricks Using Custom 3D-Printed Molds for Unconfined Compression Tests

Published on: March 7, 2025

553

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation MICP by Immersion
06:27

Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation MICP by Immersion

Published on: September 12, 2019

9.7K
Preparation of Aligned Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite and Its Flexural Behavior
11:07

Preparation of Aligned Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composite and Its Flexural Behavior

Published on: June 27, 2018

11.3K
Production and Analysis of Sporosarcina pasteurii Biocement Bricks Using Custom 3D-Printed Molds for Unconfined Compression Tests
05:38

Production and Analysis of Sporosarcina pasteurii Biocement Bricks Using Custom 3D-Printed Molds for Unconfined Compression Tests

Published on: March 7, 2025

553

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Civil Engineering
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are used in cement to reduce shrinkage and cracking.
  • The impact of SAPs on mechanical strength, microstructure, and hydration heat is not fully understood due to variations in SAP properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between porosity and mechanical strength in cement mortars modified with SAPs.
  • To elucidate the effects of SAPs on microstructure and hydration, and their driving factors.

Main Methods:

  • Cement mortars were modified with two grades of SAPs at dosages of 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9%.
  • Mechanical strength, porosity (via mercury intrusion porosimetry), microstructure (via scanning electron microscopy), and hydration heat evolution were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • SAPs mitigated autogenous shrinkage.
  • An initial decrease in mechanical strength was observed at an early age, followed by a significant increase at a later age.
  • SAPs altered material porosity by filling voids and closing pores with swelled hydrogels, leading to denser structures.

Conclusions:

  • SAPs offer benefits in reducing shrinkage but have a complex effect on mechanical strength development.
  • The observed changes in mechanical strength are linked to alterations in material porosity and microstructure.
  • While SAPs can improve later-age strength through denser structures, their early-age impact requires careful consideration.