Influence of Sewage Sludge Ash and Superabsorbent Polymer on Volume Deformation of Cement Paste with Low Water/binder Ratio

Abstract

In order to facilitate the recycling of sewage sludge ash (SSA), and to reveal the effects of SSA and super absorbent polymers (SAP) on the volumetric deformation of the high performance cement-based materials, the separate and coupled effects of SSA and SAP on the volumetric deformation of the cement pastes with a low water/binder ratio (0.25) under different environmental conditions (sealed, drying, and water immersion environments) were studied. The results showed that the addition of SSA or SAP reduced the autogenous and drying shrinkage, and increased the water immersion expansion strain of the cement pastes. The addition of SSA and SAP together further reduced the autogenous and drying shrinkage, and increased the water immersion expansion. The synergistic effect of SSA and SAP on the volumetric deformation of the cement pastes was observed under a sealed environment. It was less significant under a water immersion environment. Under drying environment, the reduction in shrinkage caused by the combined addition of SSA and SAP was lower than the sum of the reduced shrinkages caused by SSA and SAP alone. These findings provided a new potential approach for the recycling and utilization of SSA.

Keywords

cement paste / sewage sludge ash / super absorbent polymer / volumetric deformation

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