Effect of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Polymer Microspheres on Impermeability and Freeze-thaw Resistance of Concrete

The primary objective of this study was to assess freeze-thaw resistance of concrete whose structure was modified by varying the water/binder ratio and ground granulated blast furnace slag content, and by air entrainment. The innovative method of the polymer microspheres-based air entrainment was used to provide a stable pore structure.Test results show that the method is very effective both in providing adequate air entrainment and in improving freeze-thaw resistance of concrete. All air-entrained concrete specimens with polymer microspheres (the spacing factor of ≤ 0.25mm) had a good resistance to the action of frost, regardless of the W/S ratio and the slag cement content.