Exploring Additives for Enhancing Concrete Performance and Durability in Construction
In addition to improving workability, MHEC also enhances the water retention properties of construction materials. This is particularly beneficial in applications where moisture control is important, such as tile adhesives and grouts. MHEC helps to prevent the premature drying of the material, allowing for better adhesion and reducing the risk of cracking or shrinkage. This not only improves the overall performance of the material but also extends its lifespan.
This study was conducted using a CEM I 52.5N sample (“Milke®” from HeidelbergCement AG, Heidelberg, Germany). Its properties are presented in Table 1. Composition of the cement was obtained by Q-XRD using a Bruker axs D8 Advance instrument (Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany) with Bragg–Brentano geometry. Topas 4.0 software was employed to quantify the amounts of individual phases present in the sample by following Rietveld's method of refinement. The amounts of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and hemi-hydrate