Ice Formation in Pores in Polymer Modified Concrete-I. The Influence of the Admixtures on the Water to Ice Transition

This paper reports results from a larger study on the influence a/two admixtures (methyl hydroxy ethyl celullose, M HEC and polyvinyl acetate, PV A) on properties 0/ water contained in pores and capillaries of cementitious materials subjected to freezing and thawing cycles. The Differential Scanning Calorimetrv technique has been found to be particularly useful in evaluating the amount of heat that is involved as material undergoes either an endothermic or an exothermic transition. An allempt has been made to explain some aspects a/phase transition based on the Everell and Hynes model. Test results have shown that the lowest values of ice concentration were recorded/or composites which had the lowest M H EC contents andfiner microstructure