A review on the use of self-curing agents and its mechanism in high-performance cementitious materials

Abstract

Self-cured concrete is a type of cement-based material that has the unique ability to mitigate the loss rate of water and increase the capacity of concrete to retain water compared to conventional concrete. The technique allows a water-filled internal curing agent to be added to the concrete mixture and then slowly releases water during the hydration process. Many researchers have studied the composition of self-curing concrete using different materials such as artificial lightweight aggregate (LWA), porous superfine powders, superabsorbent polymers (SAP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), natural fibers, and artificial normal-weight aggregate (ANWA) as curing agents. Likewise, physical, mechanical, and microstructure properties, including the mechanisms of curing agents toward self-curing cement-based, were discussed. It was suggested that adopting self-curing agents in concrete has a beneficial effect on hydration, improving the mechanical properties, durability, cracking susceptibility behavior, and mitigating autogenous and drying shrinkage. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the curing agent and the cement paste matrix also improved, and the permeability is reduced.