Publication

Abstract : The difficulty of conventional curing in high-rise structures and desert areas justifies the use of other forms of hydration methods. The inclusion of internal curing agents in concrete decreases evaporation as well as intensifies the cement hydration process. This work analyzes the influence of low molarity polyethylene glycol (PEG 400 and PEG 600) as internal curing agents on the rheology of cement pastes. Nine mixes, consisting of a reference mix and PEG dosages between 0.5% and 2.0% by weight of cement, were made with a fixed water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.3. Rheological characteristics, such as yield stress and plastic viscosity, were assessed using a temperature-controlled coaxial cylinder viscometer (Brookfield RV-II). The dosage of the superplasticizer was optimized using flow tests, such as the mini-slump and marsh cone tests, to provide optimum dosage for rheological investigation. Rheological findings show that 1–1.5% PEG dosages improve plastic viscosity and yield stress for better workability. The blend, however, showed irregular rheological behavior and high viscosity with 2% dosage of both PEG 400 and PEG 600, which presents a key dosage threshold for utilization.