This invention relates to the field of cement compositions used for the production of self-leveling fluid screeds, and more particularly a cement fluid composition for a screed and the self-leveling fluid screed thus produced.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA self-leveling fluid screed is formed from a cement composition that is based on a binder, a granulate, which is generally sand, at least one fluidizing adjuvant (also called superplasticizer or dispersant) and water. The fluidizing adjuvant makes it possible to transform this cement composition into a paste whose consistency after mixing is close to that of water. This explains the self-leveling and self-smoothing nature of the composition in the fresh state.
Such screeds are highly prized in the construction and building field for their great ease of use, their ability to correct surface evenness defects of supports and to coat, for example, ducts of heating floors. They make it possible to obtain, without outside intervention, the perfect spreading of the mixture that is therefore done by gravity owing to the composition of the poured mixture.
The implementation of these screeds can be done on sites according to two methods:
The different types of screeds are distinguished primarily by the nature of their binder.
The binders that are currently most used are natural or synthetic anhydrite (anhydrous calcium sulfate) that leads to the formation of gypsum after hydration, with the aluminous cement to which may or may not be added calcium sulfate that leads to the rapid formation of ettringite or Portland cement.
The so-called &#;anhydrite&#; screeds have the major drawback of being, after drying, very water-sensitive. Any rewetting of the screed by sweating from the support slab can give rise to serious disorders in the behavior of the ground covering. In addition, in drying, &#;anhydrite&#; screeds have protrusions of gypsum that crystallizes on the surface as well as protrusions of laitance (sweating that is manifested by an upwelling of water accompanied by fine elements of the formulation, such as limestone, gypsum). The surface formation of a skin that is not very resistant or powdered laitance restricts&#;before any placement of coating on said screed&#;operations of sanding, brushing or planing. Finally, the drying time of an anhydrite screed is generally slow. If the latter can be accelerated during the initial heating of a heating floor, in the absence of an internal heating system, the necessary drying time before coverage is approximately one month.
The use of aluminous cement, to which is generally added calcium sulfate, leads to the formation of ettringite after hydration. The resulting hardened screed is generally insensitive to water but in this case, the usable shelf life of the cement composition is rather short (less than 1 hour 30 minutes), making its use inadvisable in the case of transport by a cement mixer to the site from a concrete plant. The aluminous cement is then primarily used in the form of ready-to use &#;premix&#; and packaged in bags. It is mixed on site just before producing the screed.
The use of Portland cement by itself is generally preferable for producing a self-leveling fluid screed because it makes it possible to obtain a usable shelf life that is adequate for transporting and using the cement composition on site. In contrast, without the addition of specific adjuvants such as those described in, for example, the patent EP-B1-1,197,480, the hydration of Portland cement inevitably leads to the shrinkage phenomenon that gives rise to potential cracks, lifting of the edges of the screed, or warping and the subsequent formation of macrocracking under the action of its own weight. This pathology, also known as &#;curling,&#; is linked to the shrinkage differential between the bottom and the surface of the screed, a differential caused by a moisture gradient that develops during drying.
A first object of the invention is therefore to propose a cement binder for a self-leveling fluid screed that makes it possible to obtain a cement composition that has a usable shelf life of more than approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, in particular for enabling its preparation in a concrete plant, exhibiting a rapid hardening, reflected by a mechanical resistance to compression at 24 hours that is at least equal to approximately 1 MPa so as to enable the continuation of work on the site the next day by making possible at least pedestrian traffic.
To combat the dimensional variations during hydration and drying phases, so-called expansive cements have been developed. These cements, according to the ACI (American Concrete Institute) Committee 223&#;Standard Practice for the Use of Shrinkage-Compensating Concrete (ACI-223-98), are cements that, when they are mixed with water, produce a cement paste that, after setting, under moist curing conditions, tends to increase in volume. The expansion that is produced is capable of counterbalancing all or part of the shrinkage observed during exposure of the cement paste to an environment with reduced hygrometry and therefore obtaining cement compositions that have reduced dimensional variations. The expansive cement is thus described as a cement with shrinkage that is compensated to the extent that the residual expansion in the material remains limited and is even zero.
Furthermore, cement compositions with compensated shrinkage that are designed in such a way as to increase volume after setting and during the hardening phase at a young age are known. This expansion, when it is limited or restricted (by frames or simply a support or framework in the case of a slab), causes a compressive stress in the material. During subsequent drying, the shrinkage, instead of causing a traction stress that would lead to cracking, &#;releases&#; expansion deformations caused by the initial expansion.
Quicklime or magnesia is known as an expansive agent that makes it possible to compensate for shrinkage. As expansive binders, there are also expansive cements that lead to the controlled formation of etrringite in the first days that follow the installation of the concrete that make it possible to obtain a shrinkage-compensating effect. The three types of expansive cement that are recognized by the Standards ACI-223R6-93 and ASTM C 845-90 are as follows:
In a K-type expansive cement&#;the most frequently encountered one, in particular in the United States&#;the formation of ettringite from C4A3$ is represented by the following equation:
C4A3$+8C$H2+6CH+74H&#;3C6A$3H32
The expansion of the cement paste that results from the formation of ettringite begins as soon as the water has been added, but the prevented expansion alone is beneficial, which is not the case as long as the concrete or mortar is in the plastic state. Furthermore, delayed expansion in a concrete can be dramatic when, for example, the latter undergoes an external attack by sulfates. It is therefore important that the formation of ettringite ceases after several days. During the use of this type of concrete, it is necessary to ensure curing with water, after pouring, a necessary condition for drawing full benefit from the use of such a cement. This limits the use of such cements to cement compositions that have a certain consistency. Consequently, until now, the case of self-leveling fluid cement compositions did not fall within the field of application of the cement compositions with compensated shrinkage.
Furthermore, the handling, or usability, of a cement composition that is manufactured with a K-type expansive cement is not as good, and the settling loss is greater than that observed with a traditional Portland cement. Taking into account the presence of quicklime in the K-type expansive cement, the kinetics of formation of the ettringite is quick and from the first moments leads to immobilizing a portion of the mixing water. This is reflected by a significant loss of usability over time.
A second object of this invention is to propose a binder for a self-leveling fluid screed with compensated shrinkage whose usable shelf life of the cement composition, implemented from this binder, can be controlled over an adequate period to make possible the use of said composition. Typically, this time is to easily reach 3 hours in the case of a delivery of the cement composition by mixing truck from the concrete plant (manufacturing site) to the work site (site of pouring the self-leveling fluid cement composition).
A third object of this invention is also to propose a cement composition that does not undergo a loss of fluidity over time: i.e., having a self-leveling nature from the time of its manufacturing until the time of its use at the site for making possible the casting of the screed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONFor this purpose, the self-leveling fluid screed cement composition according to the invention, formed by a mixture of a cement binder, adjuvants that comprise at least one fluidizing adjuvant, granulates, and water, is characterized in that the cement binder comprises:
Preferably, the cement binder of the cement composition comprises:
The tests that are carried out have shown, surprisingly enough, that the essential condition for minimizing the shrinkage is to observe the above-mentioned molar ratio between the total calcium sulfate content, including the one that is present in the sulfo-aluminous clinker, and the calcium sulfo-aluminate content that is present in the sulfo-aluminous clinker.
Portland cement is defined as a cement that is standardized according to the European Standard EN 197-1 (of types I and II). In a preferred manner, Portland cement has a specific surface area (Blaine) of between 3,000 and 6,000 cm2/g.
Sulfo-aluminous clinker is defined as any material that results from the firing at a temperature of between 900° C. and ° C. (clinkerization temperature) of mixtures that contain at least one source of lime (for example limestones that have a CaO content that varies between 50% and 60%), at least one alumina source (for example bauxites, calcined aluminas or another manufacturing sub-product that contains alumina), and at least one sulfate source (gypsums, chemical gypsum, natural or synthetic anhydrite, plaster, sulfo-calcic fly ash). The sulfo-aluminous clinker that is part of the binder of this invention contains a content of calcium sulfo-aluminate 4CaO.3Al2O3.SO3 (also referred to as C4A3$) that is greater than 30% by weight, preferably between 50 and 70% by weight.
Advantageously, the sulfo-aluminous clinker that is used within the scope of the invention contains a free lime content that is less than or equal to 1% by weight, preferably less than 0.6% by weight. A content that is greater than 1% of free lime can give rise to problems of rapid usability loss of the cement composition.
Calcium sulfate can be selected from among anhydrite, gypsum, or calcium hemihydrate.
In this composition, the binder is diluted with water according to a water/binder ratio by weight that is advantageously between 0.60 and 0.80, preferably between 0.70 and 0.80.
In a preferred manner, the granulate is sand, advantageously with a grain size that is less than or equal to 4 mm.
The cement composition according to the invention can contain one or more adjuvants that are selected from among: a setting retardant, such as a polycarboxylic acid, a hardening accelerator, a cohesion and stability agent, an anti-foaming agent, and a superplasticizer. The hardening accelerator is advantageously an alkaline salt, preferably selected from among lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, or a mixture of the latter.
Said composition preferably has a usable shelf life (measured according to the ASTM Standard C230/C230 M-03) of between 1 hour 30 minutes and 3 hours, at a temperature of between 5° C. and 30° C.
This invention also relates to the use of the cement composition described above for the production of a self-leveling fluid screed.
The self-leveling screed that is obtained from the composition described above has performance levels that are higher than the screeds of the prior art and is in particular characterized in that it has a mechanical resistance to compression at 24 hours that is at least equal to 1 MPa, a shrinkage at 7 days, measured under a relative hygrometry of 50%, less than 500 μm/m, and an endogenous inflation value that is measured at 7 days, less than 1,000 μm/m. Observation of these values makes it possible to obtain a so-called &#;good dimensional stability&#; screed and therefore with limited shrinkage, to the extent that it is noted that no crack appears until 28 days after its implementation.
Table 1 below makes it possible to compare and to &#;quantify&#; the observed performance for the self-leveling fluid screed according to the invention relative to the performance of the screeds of the prior art.
TABLE 1 SULFO- SCREED PORTLAND ALUMINOUS ALUMINOUS ACCORDING ANHYDRITE CEMENT CEMENT CEMENT TO THE PROPERTY SCREED SCREED SCREED SCREED INVENTION Elevated + &#; + + + Mechanical Resistance at 1 Day Long Usable + + &#; &#; + Shelf Life Dimensional + &#; + + + Stability under Reduced Hygrometry (R.H. = 50%) Dimensional &#; + &#; &#; + Stability in a Wet Environment Elevated &#; + + + + Drying Time Absence of &#; + + + + Sanding NUMBER 3 4 4 4 6 OF &#;+&#; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of different embodiments provided by way of nonlimiting examples that are presented with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show diagrams of the measurement of the spread of the cement composition according to the ASTM Standard.
FIG. 2 presents the &#;curlingmeter,&#; a device for measuring dimensional variations of a screed.
FIG. 3 is a graph that shows the dimensional variations over time of a screed of the prior art, and
FIGS. 4 and 5 are graphs that show the dimensional variations over time of screeds in accordance with this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Examples 1/ Preparation of the Cement Composition in a LaboratoryTwo laboratory mixing protocols are used according to which the cement composition is intended to be used in the form of a ready-to-use premix or in the form of mortar to be manufactured in a concrete plant.
In the first case, the dry cement composition that comprises the cement binder, the adjuvants and the sand is first homogenized in a Turbula-type mixer for 5 minutes before being mixed in a laboratory mixer.
In the second case, the cement composition without sand is first homogenized in a Turbula-type mixer for 5 minutes. It is at the time of mixing that the sand is first wetted and that the liquid superplasticizer is added.
2/ Tested ParametersThe parameters of the tested fluid mortars are as follows:
Shrinkage/expansion measurements: the measurements of shrinkage and expansion are carried out on specimens of hardened mortar. After preparing the cement composition according to the mixing protocol described above, the latter is introduced into metal molds with dimensions of 4×4×16 cm3. The molds are kept for 24 hours in an environmental chamber at 20° C. under conditions of relative humidity (R.H.) that are greater than 95%. At the end of 24 hours, the specimens are demolded and placed in different tested environments: at 20° C. and 50% relative humidity, at 20° C. in water, and at 20° C. under endogenic conditions (specimens encased in aluminum). The first measurement of shrinkage takes place at 24 hours. The changes in the dimensions of the specimens are measured using a comparator up to a period of at least 28 days in the different tested environments. The positive &#;shrinkage&#; values correspond to an expansion, and the negative values correspond to a reduction of the dimension of specimens (effective shrinkage).
The Portland cement that is used is a CEM I- or CEM II-type Portland cement.
The sulfo-aluminous clinker that is used in the examples below exhibits a C4A3$ content of between 55 and 65% by weight, a calcium sulfate C$ content of between 7 and 11% by weight, a C2S content of between 17 and 22% by weight, and a content of free lime that is close to 0.3% by weight.
The calcium sulfate that is added is anhydrite here.
In all of the following examples, the contents of the different components are expressed in parts by weight, and the percentages of the components of the binder relate to the percentage by weight relative to the total weight of the binder.
Example 1This Example 1 shows that if the Portland cement content is greater than 85% (comparative screed 1 and comparative screed 2), then the mechanical performances of the screed do not allow pedestrian traffic on the screed because the resistance to compression is too low: Rc (1 day)<1 MPa. All of the formulations that are presented in Table 2 were optimized so as to obtain a usable shelf life of at least 3 hours.
TABLE 2 Comparative Comparative SCREED 1 SCREED 2 SCREED 3 CEM II/B-LL 32.5 R 427.5 415 380 SULFO-ALUMINOUS 11.25 (2.5%) 14.8 (3.3%) 41 (9.1%) CLINKER ANHYDRITE 11.25 (2.5%) 20.2 (4.5%) 29 (6.5%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 1.5 2.5 3 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 828 Sand 0.5/1.25 mm 359 359 359 Sand 1.25/4 mm 193 193 193 Citric Acid 3 2.5 3 Collaxim P5 0.08 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 2 1 1 Water (Water/Binder 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; Ratio by Weight) Spread t 0 264 261 261 Spread (t = 30 min) 267 258 264 Spread (t = 60 min) 268 257 268 Spread (t = 90 min) 261 252 257 Spread (t = 120 min) 262 237 255 Spread (t = 150 min) 254 252 256 Spread (t = 180 min) 249 231 257 PORTLAND 95% 92.2% 84.4% CEMENT CONTENT C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 7.30 9.67 5.40 Rf (1 day) (MPa) 0.2 ± 0.1 0.2 ± 0.1 1.9 ± 0.1 Rc (1 day) (MPa) 0.5 ± 0.1 0.5 ± 0.1 5.6 ± 0.1 Rf = Bending Strength Rc = Compressive Strength Example 2In this Example 2, all of the formulations presented in Table 3 were also optimized so as to obtain a useable shelf life of at least 3 hours.
TABLE 3 Comparative Comparative Comparative SCREED 4 SCREED 5 SCREED 6 SCREED 3 CEM II/B-LL 380 380 400 380 32.5 R SULFO- 29 (6.5%) 35 (7.8%) 25 (5.55%) 41 (9.1%) ALUMINOUS CLINKER ANHYDRITE 41 (9.1%) 35 (7.8%) 25 (5.55%) 29 (6.5%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 2.5 3 3 3 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 828 828 Sand 0.5/ 359 359 359 359 1.25 mm Sand 1.25/4 193 193 193 193 mm Citric Acid 2.5 3 2.5 3 Collaxim P5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 1 1 1 1 Water (Water/ 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; Binder Ratio) Spread t 0 269 260 261 261 Spread 265 264 256 264 (t = 30 min) Spread 263 266 255 268 (t = 60 min) Spread 263 270 246 257 (t = 90 min) Spread 252 262 242 255 (t = 120 min) Spread 252 252 245 256 (t = 150 min) Spread 244 256 243 257 (t = 180 min) PORTLAND 84.4% 84.4% 88.9% 84.4% CEMENT CONTENT C$/C4A3$ 9.98 7.30 7.30 5.40 (Molar) Rf (1 day) 0.5 ± 0.1 1.9 ± 0.2 0.5 ± 0.1 1.9 ± 0.1 (MPa) Rc (1 day) 1.2 ± 0.1 5.0 ± 0.1 1.0 ± 0.1 5.6 ± 0.1 (MPa) Expansion in +6,277 +2,267 +4,713 +347 Water (7 Days) (G in μm/m) Shrinkage: &#; &#;130 +630 &#;413 50% R.H. (7 Days) (R in μm/m) Dimensional &#; +2,397 +4,083 +760 Amplitude (G-R in μm/m)The results of this Table 3 demonstrate the influence of the C$/C4A3$ molar ratio on the dimensional stability of the mortar, with an identical Portland cement content. A ratio that is equal to 5.4 makes it possible to optimize the dimensional amplitude whereas if this ratio is greater than 7.3, an excessive expansion in water (i.e., under RH=100%) is observed. In the case of the screed 5, the measured shrinkage values are as low as possible and could allow us to conclude that this formulation provides the best performance. This is especially so since during the casting of such a screed, it is unlikely that it is immersed in water and therefore able to cause an incompatible expansion (+2,267 μm/m). However, the endogenic shrinkage that is measured on such a screed actually corresponds to a great expansion as Table 4 below shows. If it is accepted that endogenic-type behavior can occur at the bottom of the screed, this high value is completely inconsistent.
TABLE 4 Comparative SCREED 5B SCREED 3B CEM II/B-LL 32.5 R 380 380 SULFO-ALUMINOUS CLINKER 35 (7.8%) 41 (9.1%) ANHYDRITE 35 (7.8%) 29 (6.5%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 3 3 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 Sand 0.5/1.25 mm 359 359 Sand 1.25/4 mm 193 193 Citric Acid 3 3 Collaxim P5 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 1 1 Water (Water/Binder Ratio by Weight) 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; PORTLAND CEMENT CONTENT 84.4% 84.4% C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 7.30 5.40 Endogenic Shrinkage (7 Days) (RE in μm/m) +3,173 +430The screeds 5B and 3B presented in Table 4 are screeds with compositions that correspond respectively to the compositions of the screeds 5 and 3 that are produced in a laboratory, which have been cast at an industrial site on a surface area of 15 m2 and a height of between 4 and 8 cm. From 7 days, cracks are observed on the screed 5B that is not yet immersed in water, whereas the screed 3B does not have this type of defect. An endogenic shrinkage limit value makes it possible to avoid any cracking problem. This shrinkage limit value that is in fact expansion has been set at + μm/m at 7 days.
Example 3In this Example 3, the two formulations that are presented in Table 5 below are also optimized so as to obtain a usable shelf life of at least 3 hours.
TABLE 5 Comparative SCREED 7 SCREED 8 SCREED 3 CEM II/B-LL 32.5 R 360 360 380 (Vicat) SULFO-ALUMINOUS 65.3 (14.5%) 46.5 (10.3%) 41 (9.1%) CLINKER ANHYDRITE 24.7 (5.5%)&#; 43.5 (9.7%)&#; 29 (6.5%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 1.5 2.5 3 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 828 Sand 0.5/1.25 mm 359 359 359 Sand 1.25/4 mm 193 193 193 Citric Acid 3.5 3 3 Collaxim P5 0.08 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 2 1 1 Water (Water/Binder 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; Ratio by Weight) Spread t 0 269 266 261 Spread (t = 30 min) 273 272 264 Spread (t = 60 min) 266 265 268 Spread (t = 90 min) 262 257 257 Spread (t = 120 min) 264 251 255 Spread (t = 150 min) 256 248 256 Spread (t = 180 min) 245 243 257 Rf (1 day) (MPa) 2.3 ± 0.2 2.4 ± 0.1 1.9 ± 0.1 Rc (1 day) (MPa) 6.1 ± 0.1 7.6 ± 0.1 5.6 ± 0.1 PORTLAND CEMENT 80% 80% 84.4% CONTENT C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 3.27 6.88 5.40 Expansion (7 Days) +50 +1,320 +347 (G in μm/m) Shrinkage (7 Days) (R &#;705 &#;333 &#;413 in μm/m) Dimensional Amplitude +755 +1,653 +760 (7 Days) (G-R in μm/m)With the primary parameter being shrinkage, the screeds 8 and 3 are suitable for the application, unlike the screed 7 that has excessive shrinkage. The endogenic shrinkage values (corresponding in fact to expansion) that are less than 1,000 μm/m make it possible to produce a self-leveling fluid cement screed for 3 hours that is then free of cracking over time (see Table 6 below). The screeds 8B and 3B correspond to the cement compositions of the screeds 8 and 3 of Table 5, cast at the industrial site over a surface area of 15 m2 using a mixer/pump.
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TABLE 6 SCREED 8B SCREED 3B CEM II/B-LL 32.5 R 360 380 SULFO-ALUMINOUS CLINKER 46.5 (10.3%) 41 (9.1%) ANHYDRITE 43.5 (9.7%)&#; 29 (6.5%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 2.5 3 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 Sand 0.5/1.25 mm 359 359 Sand 1.25/4 mm 193 193 Citric Acid 3 3 Collaxim P5 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 1 1 Water (Water/Binder Ratio by 330 (0.73)&#;&#; 330 (0.73)&#;&#; Weight) PORTLAND CEMENT CONTENT 80% 84.4% C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 6.88 5.40 Endogenic Shrinkage (7 Days) +927 +430 (RE in μm/m)Taking into account the set of results above, it is demonstrated that, surprisingly enough, the C$/C4A3$ molar ratio is to be between 5 and 7 to make possible the production of a self-leveling fluid screed for 3 hours, free of cracking, a result of a controlled shrinkage and expansion.
Example 4Example 4 shows that with Portland cement contents as low as 70% by weight in the cement binder, it is possible to obtain a screed having a good dimensional stability.
TABLE 7 SCREED 9 SCREED 10 CEM II/B-LL 32.5 R 315 315 SULFO-ALUMINOUS CLINKER 81 (18%) 72 (16%) ANHYDRITE 54 (12%) 63 (14%) Li2CO3 0.3 0.3 Cimfluid P2 2.5 2.5 Sand 0/0.5 mm 828 828 Sand 0.5/1.25 mm 359 359 Sand 1.25/4 mm 193 193 Citric Acid 3.5 3.5 Collaxim P5 0.2 0.2 Desaerocim P1 1 1 Water (Water/Binder Ratio by Weight) 330 (0.73) 330 (0.73) PORTLAND CEMENT CONTENT 70% 70% C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 5.14 6.49 Shrinkage (7 Days) (R in μm/m) &#;320 &#;210 Endogenic Shrinkage (7 Days) (RE in μm/m) +520 +982However, a lower Portland cement content restricts the use of higher quantities of sulfo-aluminous cement, which leads to a higher cost. Furthermore, an increase in the content of sulfo-aluminous clinker makes it more difficult to monitor the usable shelf life of 3 hours during which the mortar is to remain self-leveling.
Example 5Example 5 shows that Portland cement can be selected just as well from among the CEM I- and CEM II-type Portland cements.
TABLE 8 MATERIALS SCREED 11 SCREED 12 SCREED 13 CEM I 52.5 N 380 g &#; &#; CEM II/A-LL 42.5 N &#; 380 g &#; CEM II/B-M (S-LL) 32.5 R &#; &#; 380 g Sulfo-Aluminous Clinker &#;41 g &#;41 g &#;41 g Anhydrite SMA &#;29 g &#;29 g &#;29 g Li2CO3 0.3 g 0.3 g 0.3 g Citric Acid 2.5 g &#;&#;3 g 2.5 g Collaxim P5 0.2 g 0.2 g 0.2 g Desaerocim P1 &#;&#;1 g &#;&#;1 g &#;&#;1 g Sand 0/4 mm 1,380 g&#; &#; &#; Sand 0/2 mm R &#; 1,380 g&#; &#; Sand 0/0.5 mm &#; &#; 828 g&#; Sand 0.5/1.25 mm &#; &#; 359 g&#; Sand 1.25/4 mm &#; &#; 193 g&#; Cimfluid 9.5 g &#; &#; Optima 100 &#; 7.5 g &#; Cimfluid P2 &#; &#; 2.5 g Water (Water/Binder Ratio) 354 g&#; 325 g&#; 330 g&#; (0.79) (0.72) (0.73) Portland Cement Content 84.4% 84.4% 84.4% C$/C4A3$ (Molar) 5.40 5.40 5.40 Spread t 0 268 267 263 Spread (t = 30 min) 269 275 260 Spread (t = 60 min) 266 272 259 Spread (t = 90 min) 258 266 254 Spread (t = 120 min) 255 258 &#; Spread (t = 150 min) 253 253 &#; Spread (t = 180 min) 249 249 &#; Rc (1 day) (MPa) 4.1 3.8 3.9 Endogenic Shrinkage (7 Days) &#;2.0 +53.0 &#;2.7 (RE in μm/m) Shrinkage 50% R.H. (7 Days) &#;39.7 &#;126.7 &#;45.0 (R in μm/m)As the results of Table 8 above show, the shrinkage values (whether it is endogenic shrinkage or shrinkage from drying under a hygrometry of 50%) measured on 3 screeds are very low.
Example 6Example 6 consolidates the results of measurements of dimensional variations A and a lifting of edges B based on time that are carried out continuously using a &#;curlingmeter&#; on three screeds of different compositions: namely, the comparative screed 5 and the screeds 8 and 12 that fall within the scope of the invention, presented respectively in the accompanying FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
It is noted in FIG. 3 that the comparative screed 5 has excessive expansion and leads to the appearance of cracks by expansion.
Among the two screeds according to the invention, it appears (see FIGS. 4 and 5) that the screed 12 is particularly efficient: the shrinkage compensation is achieved by a preliminary expansion that compensates exactly for the shrinkage at the end of 500 hours (approximately 21 days). The screed remains expanded, unlike the screed 8.
Laying concrete over large areas may seem easy enough for most DIY-ers, but wet concrete is heavy and difficult to move. Hiring professionals to install concrete floors helps reduce the risk of uneven floors.
However, if you notice that your concrete floors are uneven, you do not need to panic. Uneven concrete floors are fixed or repaired through a process known as floor leveling.
Self-leveling concrete is the best solution for repairing concrete floors. This concrete is excellent for concrete floors that have cracks, are sunken, or are uneven. It is a great way to level unleveled surfaces while giving old concrete floors a fresh look.
What is self-leveling concrete?Self-leveling concrete is a polymer-modified cement used to create high-compressive smooth flat surfaces. It does not require large volumes of water and can work on any non-flexible surface, including wood, ceramic tiles, plywood, and concrete.
There are two types of self-leveling compounds; acrylic and water-based concrete. Acrylic concrete is made by mixing cement powder with liquid acrylic polymer.
The water-based self-leveling concrete uses water instead of the acrylic liquid for mixing. They both come as a bag of powder containing the latex compounds for mixing. The water-based self-leveling concrete type is much easier to use and ideal for beginners.
Self-leveling concrete is poured in liquid form and spread in place using a gauging tool. A single pass of self-leveling concrete is usually 0.25 to 1.5 inches thick. The finished product is smooth and flat, with superior compressive strength to traditional concrete floors.
After application, the concrete can be decorated using overlays or concrete stains and dyes. Self-leveling concrete is relatively popular among architects and property owners because of its many advantages over traditional concrete.
It is easy, quick to install, and useable before or after construction. It also creates smooth and flat floors on tile, plywood, or concrete floors. Therefore, self-leveling concrete helps reduce instances of damage and repair costs.
When to use self-leveling concreteSelf-leveling concrete is quick and easy to install and is therefore quite DIY-friendly. Use self-leveling concrete to repair slightly uneven floors in your home. Use a spirit level to accurately measure the degree of unevenness, then pour the compound and spread it out.
There are many applications for self-leveling concrete. It is perfect for upcycling settled or cracked floors. You can also use it to smoothen and flatten rough and uneven basement floors.
You can also use it as a standalone finishing material, durable enough to withhold daily wear and tear. This makes it suitable for use in retail stores, warehouse floors, institutional facilities, and industrial locations.
For decoration, add stains, pigmented color dyes, and saw cuts, and for a more polished look, consider mechanical polishing.
When not to use self-leveling concreteDespite its advantages, self-leveling concrete is not always the best option. There are some instances when you should not use self-leveling concrete.
Do not use self-leveling concrete without the help of a trained professional. The compound dries very fast and only allows a ten to twenty-minute window from pouring to spreading before it starts to harden.
Self-leveling concrete is best suited as a standalone or subsurface flooring for interior flooring. However, it is unsuitable for outdoor flooring as it doesn&#;t hold up very well in harsh conditions.
Polymer-mixed, self-leveling concrete also does not cure very well on non-horizontal surfaces. It will therefore be unsuitable for use on vertical walls. It is also not suitable for use where heavy machinery or harsh chemicals are applied.
It is also advisable to avoid using self-leveling concrete on floors with structural damage. It only fixes the surface, so the problem will reoccur if the underlying floor orientation is in bad shape. Perform structural repairs before applying the leveler to prevent the floor from sinking again.
Self-leveling concrete is also unsuitable for repairs in large areas due to its fast drying time and increased cost. A self-leveling concrete bag is more expensive than a bag of ordinary cement.
Finally, do not use self-leveling concrete unless you can clean it right after application. Concrete is very sticky and can stain surfaces and clothes.
How to use self-leveling concreteIt is vital to ensure there&#;s no structural damage before installing self-leveling concrete. If the unevenness is due to structural damage, you must get that fixed first.
Next, you need to determine the moisture level of the concrete floor. Moisture is normal in concrete, but a high moisture level puts the leveling compound at risk of gradual degradation. The slab must, therefore, be tested to ensure that the moisture level is within acceptable levels.
This can be done using &#;the relative humidity test using in situ probes.&#; Once you know the floor is good enough to work on, you can start the installation process. Start by preparing the floor and filling the cracks, then apply primer, mix the concrete and leave to dry.
Clear the floor by removing the room's furniture, appliances, and baseboards. Remove everything moveable, so you get a good finish. Once the room is empty, clean the floor and remove dust. For best results, sweep first and then vacuum. The clean surface is ready for priming.
Use a filler and a sealer to fill the larger cracks in the concrete floor. To do this, place the nozzle of the filler bottle in the cracks and squeeze out enough filler to fill the crack. You can also press the filler into the cracks to ensure they are adequately filled.
Ensure you have filled all the cracks before proceeding to the next step to avoid wasting the leveler. Allow the filler and sealer to dry, and then prime the surface.
Once all cracks have been filled, use a soft-bristle push broom to apply and spread the primer. Use downward pressure to spread the primer thoroughly, ensuring you push it into the pores of the concrete. Allow the primer to dry for 3-24 hours.
Pour the leveling compound into a bucket and add some water. Use a mixing paddle to mix it until you have achieved the right consistency. Work fast and mix one bag at a time because the compound dries fast.
Since you only have a 10-20 minute window before the compound begins to harden, you should work with a partner. An extra pair of hands is great because one person can mix the compound while the other installs it.
Once the compound is installed, let it dry according to the instructions on the bad. Self-leveling concrete typically takes 4-24 hours to dry, so you should be able to walk on it after 4 hours. Give it at least 24 hours to dry completely before installing any other flooring.
SummarySelf-leveling concrete is a polymer-modified cement used to create high-compressive smooth flat surfaces. It is an ideal alternative to regular concrete because it is easy to use and fixes uneven floors in just 4-24 hours.
Ideal for DIY projects, self-leveling concrete should only be used when there is no structural damage to the existing concrete floor. It is suitable for use on wood, tiles, and concrete.
Self-leveling concrete is best for relatively small spaces because it is expensive compared to cement covering square footage at a much lower cost. Ultimately, self-leveling concrete offers a quick and easy fix for uneven floors.
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