How does Mix Water Enhancer™ increase concrete’s impermeability?
(A) Permeability is the ease with which liquids or gases can travel through set concrete. Permeability can be measured in a laboratory test by sealing the sides of a concrete specimen, then applying water pressure to its top surface while measuring volume of water flow through the specimen once flow rate stabilization has occurred. In concrete with normal weight aggregate, permeability is governed by tobermorite gel porosity and the presence of larger capillary porosity, that originally formed as mix water pockets. Generally, permeability is a function of capillary porosity, governed by water-cement ratio and degree of hydration. Mix Water Enhancer™ provides mix water with ingredients to significantly improve the mix water’s degree of hydration. This is achieved through greater cement particle saturation. This works to ensure optimal mix water volumes are absorbed by the cement, even to beneath the cement particles hydrate envelopes. This facilitates easier shear of these hydrate envel
