Effects of the natural polymer-based durability-enhancing admixture on the frost resistance of concrete

Although it is rare for concrete structures to fail due to lack of intrinsic strength, concrete structures have increasingly failed to survive their specified service lives due to gradual deterioration caused by lack of durability. Any new product that can reduce concrete deterioration will certainly be beneficial to the building and construction industries. Along this line, a new natural polymer-based concrete durability-enhancing admixture and concrete containing such an admixture have been studied. It has been shown by experimental results that the natural polymer-based admixture can greatly improve concrete's durability, especially its frost resistance. In addition, the admixture exhibited a slow reaction to the surrounding temperature variance, which is vital for concrete structures located in the northern part of the world and other places that have freezing and thawing problems. Due to its natural renewability, low cost, ease of manufacture and excellent durability improvement, the new natural polymer-based admixture provides a unique way of protecting concrete from deterioration caused by factors such as freezing and thawing.