Comparison of different curing method for mechanical properties of self-curing agent using diapers polymer

• Main Authors: Mohamad D., Beddu S., Ibrahim K.S., Zainoddin M., Sapuan W.K.M.
• Other Authors: 57200335404
• Format: Conference Paper
• Published: American Institute of Physics Inc. 2023

Curing concrete is actually maintaining the moisture content as long as possible in order for concrete to develop its hardening properties during its early stages. However, good curing is rarely to occur and that's due to lack of knowledge by workers at site and shortage of water at the site area. Therefore, to investigate and produce a self-curing concrete that relays on itself in curing without the need of an outer source of water as a curing agent with a similar performance of a normal concrete using external water as a source of curing agent. This paper is investigating the effect of baby diapers as a self-curing agent. The mix design consists of high strength ordinary Portland cement with a grade of 52.5 along with coarse aggregate and washed river sand as a fine aggregate mixed along with silica fume to enhance the strength of concrete side by side with super-plasticizer to improve the workability of concrete, with the addition of baby diapers. Mix proportion has been divided into 4 mix with different proportion of baby diapers acting as the changeable variable while the rest of the components is fixed, the 4 mixes are said to be Control Mix (CM), 1% of baby diapers polymer, 2% of baby diapers polymer, and 3% of baby diapers polymer. In order to have a fair comparison in an equal number of cubes, cylinders, and prisms are molded and distributed equally to be tested under 3 different situations which are curing tank, room temperature, and sun-dry. The results can be concluded that the optimum baby-diapers ratio to be used is 1% and the optimum curing condition is said to be room-temperature as it gave the highest compressive strength and split tensile strength. � 2021 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.