How does Mix Water Enhancer™ eliminate plastic cracking of concrete?
(A) Plastic cracks usually develop between 1 and 8 hours following concrete placement, and are in the form of shrinkage or settlement cracks. Shrinkage cracks may result as cement paste contracts while still in a plastic state. This type of cracking is fairly common. They usually occur as a result of surface weakness, generally due to the work-in of excessive surface bleed water volume. This creates a weakened layer of concrete at the surface. Shrinkage cracks also can result from too-rapid water evaporation at the surface. However, all of the many reasons for shrinkage cracking such as surface water suction by dry concrete below, excessive bleed water volume, high rapid water evaporation, etc. are alleviated/eliminated when utilizing Mix Water Enhancer™. A related form of plastic cracking is surface crazing, which takes place when the surface layer of concrete has more water content than the concrete’s interior. Conditions creating surface crazing do not exist when utilizing Mix Water
