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Shrinkage Reducing Admixture for
Concrete
The Need
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Concrete shrinkage cracking is a common
problem in all types of concrete structures, especially for structures and environments
where the cracks are prevalent and the repercussions are most severe. Examples of these
are bridge decks, parking garages, marine structures, containment structures, and high
performance floors. |
The Technology
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ECLIPSE Admixture
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A liquid shrinkage reducing admixture for
concrete, developed by GRACE Construction Products and ARCO Chemical Company, that reduces
significantly the shrinkage during concrete drying and potentially reduces overall
cracking over time. The product can be easily dissolved in concrete mix water or dispersed
in concrete during mixing. The admixture works by
reducing the surface tension of the water, decreasing the force pulling in on the walls of
the pores, resulting in a reduction of the shrinkage strain. |
The Benefits
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Concrete containing ECLIPSE at a dosage of 2%
by weight of cement has been shown to reduce shrinkage by as much as 80% at 28 days, and
up to 50% at one year or beyond. The mitigation of concrete shrinkage would result in
increased usable life-span while decreasing life-cycle costs. |
Status
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This technology won the 1997 CERF Charles
Pankow Innovative Applications Award. The admixture has been used already in more than 50
projects. |
Points of Contact
- W.R. Grace &
Co.-Conn., 62 Whittemore Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
- ARCO Chemical Company,
3801 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073-2387. Phone: (610) 359-2000. Fax: (610)
359-2722
References
- 'Eclipse', Product Information, Grace Construction
Products.
- 'Emerging Technology', Design and Construction
Innovations for Tomorrow. CERF publication. Vol. 4, No. 5, 1997.
Disclaimer Statement
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Neither the Construction
Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this
technology or represents
that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation. |
LHM04
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