Physical modification of concrete mix and concrete

Numerous studies have established that the physicomechanical properties of concrete, in addition to cement activity, type of aggregates, etc., are determined by the V/C value of the concrete mixture [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]. The dependence of the strength and water tightness of concrete on H/C follows from the physical nature of the formation of the concrete structure. Studying the process of cement hydration showed that cement, depending on the quality and duration of hardening, binds only 15 … 25% of the water of its mass [11, 12, 13]. During the first month, at least 20% of the water by weight of the cement is bound. At the same time, to give the concrete mixture plasticity, improve the conditions of binder hydration, a significantly larger amount of water is introduced, since at W/C = 0.20 the concrete mixture remains practically dry and it cannot be qualitatively laid, molded and compacted. Excess water, without entering into chemical reactions with cement, remains in concrete in the form of water pores and capillaries or evaporates, leaving air pores. Undoubtedly this is the main reason for the decrease in the strength and waterproofness of concrete.