Development of amine-based pH-responsive superabsorbent polymers for mortar applications

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have already found their way in many applications. Some of these polymers undergo major characteristic changes by small environmental variations which makes them interesting for self-healing of cracks in concrete. In the present work, polymer networks composed of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide have been synthesized. Moisture uptake capacities up to 45% were measured at a relative humidity of 95%. They showed a desired pH-responsive swelling behavior with no degree of degradation. A small significant mortar strength reduction is found with addition up to 1 m% compared to the cement mass. All results were compared to commercially available SAPs.