Effects of Shrinkage Reducing Agent and Expansive Additive on Plastic Shrinkage of Mortar at Different Temperatures

In the construction, it is inevitable to perform plaster work in hot weather which causes the dehydration and rapid shrinkage on the paste during the early age. This research shows the studies of reducing the plastic shrinkage of mortar during the early age with such additives as the Shrinkage Reducing Agent (SRA), the Expansive Additive (EX), and the Fly Ash (FA) in controlled temperatures at 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C, with relative humidity between 60% and 70% according to the ASTM C1579-06 standard, with the strain gauge installed at 0.5 cm. from the surface. The shrinkage rate was measured starting from the Initial Setting Time and every 10 minutes afterwards for 24 hours. The results show that high temperature effects the cracking and how to use different formulas of additive under different circumstances is considerably important. To use only one additive is not sufficient in high temperature. To use the SRA in addition to the EX enhances better expansion than to use only the EX. Moreover, it is recommended to pay close attention in adding large amount of the FA into mortar with the EX and SRA added which extremely enhances the expansion and potential cracking.