Improving packing density of powder in cement paste for production of high-performance concrete

Abstract

The packing density of the powder in cement paste has great influence on the performance of the concrete. A higher packing density could at the same water/powder ratio increase the amount of excess water for lubricating the cement paste and thereby improve the flowability of the concrete. Alternatively, it would allow the water/powder ratio to be reduced to improve the strength of the concrete without compromising the flowability. Therefore, it is of great interest, especially for production of high-performance concrete, to maximize the packing density of the powder. This study aims to investigate the roles of superplasticizer and fillers in the packing density of the powder in cement paste. Packing density tests were carried out to determine the packing density of cement with various dosages of superplasticizer and different fillers (limestone fine, superfine cement and condensed silica fume) added using a newly developed wet packing method. The results showed that the addition of superplasticizer can significantly improve the packing density of cement while the addition of fillers can further improve the packing density of the powder.