ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR Technical Report WATER-RESISTING ADDITIVES IN CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS Alex E. 4ansout-. Jr. Project 2326 ELASTIZELL CORPORATION OF AMERICA ALPENA, MICHIGAN April 1957

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute INTRODUCTION At the request of Mr. M. P. Rosenthaler of the Besser Comrpany, the Elastizell Corporation of America sponsored tests at the Alpena Cement Products Company, involving the use of several water-resisting.additives in -concrete masonry units. These tests were conducted under the direction of Professor L., M. Legatski of The University of Michigan. SUNMARY The tests were started on January 5, 1957, at which time 7 different batches- of concrete masonry units were manufactured using 3 different commerxcially available water-resisting additives..'.Kreelon 4G, calcium stearate, and Elastimulse. Testing of specimens was limited to 3 tests, as follows: 1. Compressive strength based on gross area 2. Water absorption when submerged.24 hours 3a Water absorption when placed in 1/4 inch of water for 24 hours Tests 1 and 2 showed little difference between the effect of the various additives on compressive strength and on water absorption of a submerged specimen. Test 3,.which simulates more nearly than does Test 2 the usual exposure condition of masonry units in a wall, showed that units treated with Kreelon absorbed 26% as much water as untreated units. Those treated with calcium stearate absorbed 27% as much and those treated with 4% Elastimulse absorbed 62% as much as untreated units. MIX PROPORTIONING The tests were designed to give a comparison of the effectiveness of the 3 additives when used in commercial production; therefore, the normal proportioning of the Alpena Cement Products Company was not altered in any way (see Table I). 1

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute TABLE I PROPORTIONING OF TEST BATCHES Pea Batch Batch Cement Sand Water Additives Stone No, Size lb b lb gal Name Add/Cement Quantity 1 Full 500 3000 1500 10* Kreelon 4G 5 tblso 2 1/2 250 1500 750 7** Elastimulse.01 2.- lb 3 1/2 250 1500 750 6** Elastimulse.02 5.0 lb 4 1/2 250 1500 750 6** Elastimulse.03 7.5 lb 5 1/2 250 1'500 750 6** Elastimulse.04 10.0 lb 6 1/2 250 1500 750 6** None. 0 0 7 1/2 250 1500 750 6** Cal. Stearate.0096 2.39 lb *Measured by Alpena Cement Products Meter'4easured by Elastizell Corporation Meter CURING The concrete masonry units were cured in.the- usual.commercial manner which consists of 8 hours in a steam kiln with temperatures up to 180'F, after'which they are allowed to air-dry for.several weeks. TESTING Specimens were selected at random for testing but any specimen that displayed cracks or other serious defects was rejeeted. Tests 1 and 2 were patterned after ASTM Designation C 1400-55, entitled "'Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units'" Compressive Strength of Gross Area.-Five specimens from each batch were capped with Hydrastone to provide plane bearing surfaces and were broken at The University of Michigan Structural Laboratory, yielding strengwths as shown in Table IIo

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute TABLE II (TEST 1) COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF GROSS: AREA Ultimate Ultimate Avg. Dry Avg. Ult. Batch Block Dry Weight Strength Weight Strength Load Strength Weight Strength Noo Noo grams o No, grams lb psi grams psi 1 A 17,910 241.700 2,025 I B 17,820 249,000 2,090 1 C 17,710 227,000 1,905 17,-732 1,997 1 D 17,800 231,200 1,940 1 E 17,420 241,500 2,025 2 A 17,250 154,000 1.,295 2 B 17,,195 163,750 11,375 2 C 17,o050 157,000 1,320 17,187 1,331 2 D 17,210 159,000 1,535 2 E 17,230 158,500 1,330 3 A 17.,450 206, 500 1, 735 3 B 17,395 199,000 1,670 3 C 17,.480 191,500 1,610 17,o436 1,,638 3 3. D 17,435 193,500 1,625 3 E 17,.420 184.,750 1,550 4 A 17,270 177,o000 1,485 4 B 17,'355 190,000 1,595 14 C 17,210 178,500 1, 500 17,353 1,520 4 D 17.,590 179, 800 1,510 4 E 17,1340 179,800 1,510 5 A 17,040 172,500 1,450 5 B 17,1430 216,000 1,810 5 C 17.075 200,500 1,680 17,353 1,662 5 D 17,570 188,500 1,580 5 E 17,650 213,300 1,790 6 A 17,370 195,300 1,640 6 B.17,100 167,000 1,435 6 C 17.,300 180,000 1,510 17,276 1,501 6 D 17,310 171,500 1,440 6 E 17,300 176,500 1,,480 7 A 17,565 221,500 1,-860 7 B 17, 440 214,500 1,800 7 C 171,400 202,400 1,700 17,386 1,700 7 D 17,125 199,000 1,670 7 E 17.1400 175,000 1,470 _.. I.. I, *t.S...,;E u..... — v-3

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute TEST 2 Water Absorption Submerged 24 Hours.-Five specimens from each batch were submerged in water for 24 hours and were weighed while suspended with metal:wire and completely submerged. After removal from the water, they were allowed to drain for one minute, visible surface water being removed with a damp cloth, and immediately weighed. The results of this test are as shown in Tables III and V. TEST 3 Water Absorption by Capillary Action - Faces of Units in 1/4 Inch of Water for 24 Hours. —This test is not a standard test for concrete masonry units:, but it is believed by the director of this project and also by the author of this report that such a test more closely represents the water conditions encountered in concrete masonry construction than does Test 2. The results of Test 3 are shown in Tables TV and VI. The specimens were exposed to water as shown in the sketch below; for Test 3....,,,, I, DJISCUSSION OF TEST RESULTS generally increased with density for the units containing Elastimulse and absorption decreased as the quantity of Elastimulse was increased.. CsierConeg only units containing either Kreelon calcium stearate, or 4%f of Elastimulse, absorption varies from 3.81% to 4.22% of the dry weight when submerged for 24 hours and from 0o325% to 0.7T9% of the dry weight when placed in 1/4 inch of water for 24 hours. Test 2 is not conclusive but Test 3 clearly indicates that Kreelon is the best of the three add-itives uwed, followed by caleium stearate and 4 Elasthe unitsulse in that order. plce i 14inh f aerfo 2 ~r. Tet s otc~us~ bt e4

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute TABLE III (TEST 2) WATER ABSORPTION- SUBMERGED 24 HOURS Batch Block Dry Weight Weight Wet Weight Absorption Weight No No grams ragrmsCF Percent 1 F 17,820 10,200 18,520 5.25 3.93 I G 17,720 10,114 18,1430 5.-33 4.01 1 H 17,890 10,170 18,525 4.74 35 55 1 J 17,485 9,945 18,130 4.91 3.69 1 K 17,720 10,128 18,405 5.11 3.87 2 F 17,157 9,630 17,930 5 e82 4.51 2 G 17,252 9 715 18,040 5.91.4 57 2 H 16,865 9,520 17,645 5.99 4.63 2 J 17, 085 9,656 17,950 6.52 5.06 2 K 16, 860 9,640 17' 660 6.23 4.74 3 F 17,090 9,710 17,885 6.07 4.65 3 G 17, 340 9,815 18,080 558 4.2r27 3 H 17,,100 9,700 17,852 5.75 4.40 3 J 17,405 9,890 18,140 5.56 4.22 3 K 17,160 9,720 17,875 5.48'4.17 4 F 17,420 9,790 18,060 4.83 3.67 4 G 17,395 9,820 18,110 5 38 4.11 4 H 16,950 9,620 17,745 6.11 4.69 4 J 17,255 9,725 18,015 5.72 4.41 4 K 17,250 9,800 18,025 5.88 4049 5 F 17,535 9,915 18,195 4.97 3.76 5 G 17,130 9,740 17,860 5.60 4.26 5 H 17,150 9,790 17,990 6 39 4.89 5 J 17,495 9,950 18,225 5.51 4-17 5 K 17,460 9,890 18, 085 4.76 3.58 6 F 17,395 9,980 18,210 6.18 4.68 6 G 16:,995 9,775 17,855 6.64 5 06 6 H 17,:330 9.960 18,205 6.62 5.04 6 J 17,395 9,997 18,220 6.25 4.74 6 K 17,395 10,010 18,280 6.68 5.09 7 F 17,190 9,785 17,'890 5 39 4.07 7 G 17, 580 9,990 18,250.0o6 3 81 7 H 17,36o 9,915 18,175 6,15 4.70 7 J 17,510 9,967 18,270 5.71 4 34 7 K 17,565 10,030 18,300 5.55 4.18 5R

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute TABLE IV (TEST 3) WATER ABSORPTION CAPILLARY ACTION — 24 HOURS Batch Block -Dry Weightt Wet Weight % Absorption No, No. grains grams (, of Dry Wt.) 1 L 17,885 17,930 0.252 1 M 17,878 17, 943 o0.363 1 MN 17,670 17',710 0.226 1 0 17,975 18,033 0.323 1 P 17z,930 18, 013 o.463 2 L 16,829 17,045 1.283 2 M 16,757 16,97 1.271 2 N 17,259 17,445 1 078 2 0 1T,277 17,467 1.101 2 P 17,164 17,365 1.172 3 L 17,140 17,380* 1.40 3 M 17,1452 17, 620 0.964 3 N 17,444 17,578 0.768 3 0 17,098 17),280 1.0 o64 3 P 17,083 17,265 1.065 4 L 17?,298 17,480 1.052 4 M 17,337 17,487 0.807 4 N 17,066 17,230 0.961 4 0 17, 394 17,.522 0.736 4 P 17,036 17,215 1.050 5 L 16, 836 16,985 0.812 5 M 17,514 17,707 1.102 5 N 17,460 17,535 0.429 5o 17,524 177 662 0.787 5 P 17,521 17,655 0.765 6 L 17, 312 17,520 1.202 6 M 17,285 17,4475 1100oo 6 N 17,490 17,685 1.115 6 0 17,330 17,55.5 1.297 -6 P 17,410 17,680 1.550 7 L 17,572 17T,670 0.559 7 M 17.,533 17 595,.353 7 N 17562 17, 612 0.285 7 0 17,309 17,:360 0.295 7 P 17,172 17,208 0.210 Rejected from average - cracks in. exposed face

The University of Michigan Engineering Research Institute TABLE V (TEST 2) WATER ABSORPTION - SUBMERGED 24 HOURS Avg'Dry No. of Average'Batch Additive Weight Specimens Absorption No. Used. N Uegrams Averaged (L of Dry Wt.) 1 Kreelon 4G 17,727 5 3.81 ~2 1% Elastimulse 17,044 5 4.70 3 2% Elastimulse 17,219 5 4.34 i4 3% Elastimulse 17,254 5 4.27 5 4% Elastimulse 17,354 5 4.13 6 None 17,302 5 4.92 7 ~Cal. Stearate 17,441 5 4.22 TABLE VI (TEST 3) WATER ABSORPTION - CAPILLARY ACTION 24 HOURS Batch Additive Avg. Dry No. of Average Batch ~Addtitive Weight Specimens Absorption No. ~~Used grams Averaged ( of Dry Wt.) 1 Kreelon 4G 17,868 5 0.323 2 1% Elastimulse 17,057 5 1.181 3 2% Elastimulse 17,269 4 O.965 4I 3% Elastimulse 17,226 5 0.921 5 4% Elastimulse 17,371 5 0.779 6 None 17,365 5 1.253 7 Cal. Stearate 17,430 5 0.34o T'..'.i' i l', ~''' 1 -' r,' l,]j.,,~] i I,'' BIrm i I l'. i I 7'

The University of Michigan * Engineering Research Institute For the units containing Kreelon, calcium stearate, or 4% of Elastimulse, strength varies from 1662 psi to 1997 psi, with the highest strength group varying approximately 12% from the average and the lowest strength group approximately 7% from the average. These differences are not great enough to conclude that any one of the additives has any more effect on strength than either of the others. In concrete masonry production, density and strength are partially dependent on proper proportioning. Throughout the mixing of the test batches, the water requirement was determined by the operator. His determination of correct water content depended on the appearance of the cement in a -sample of the batch which was rubbed against a metal pipe. This method does not take into account the changes in appearance of the cement throughthe addition of additives with which the operator is unfamiliar and may therefore result in improper proportioning. CONCLUSIONS A study of the test data leads to the following conclusions. 1. Within rather narrow limits the masonry units containing Kreelon 4G shoved greater strength and density than-siimilar units containing either calcium stearate or Elastimulse. In general, the compressive strength varied directly with density. The variation in density cannot be said to be caused by the additive used, since the water was varied according to the judgment of the operator'The variation in water alone is enough to account for the differences in density and strength. 2. If water absorption is measured (as in Test 3) as the percent of dry weight absorbed when one face of the unit is immersed in water, Kreelon 4G is found to be the most effective of the additives tested, followed by calcium stearate and Elastimulse in that order. Test 3 seems to be a more reasonable way to measure water resistive of blocks than tests like Test 2 which require complete immersion of the unit. The conditions of Test 3 more nearly simulate actual conditions of use.. After observing the mixing of the concrete and the manufacture of the blocks used in these tests it is apparent that accurate proportioning of materials is most important in the manufacture of high quality block. Total water in the mix should be carefully measured. The effectiveness of any additive can be largely cancelled by inaccurate proportioning.

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