A New Technique for the Assessment of Pigmented Portland Cement Concrete

The use of pigmented concrete is on the increase in diverse applications including transportation structures and building exteriors. While there exist numerous types of commercial pigments, there seems to be no standardized procedure for their incorporation into concrete and, more importantly, there is no reliable method for the assessment of pigmented concrete and its appearance over time. This study aims at achieving a better understanding of pigmented concrete and exploring its potential properties. The main objective is to assess the impact of parameters such as cement color and pigment dosage on mechanical properties and color stability. A new automated technique is developed to quantify and assess degrees of color and its stability. Concrete specimens were made using grey and white cements and three different dosages of red, yellow and green pigments. The testing scheme includes fresh and hardened concrete properties as well as color performance assessment. On the whole, pigmented concrete had lower mechanical properties than control mixtures. The reduction in strength, however, still allows many of these mixtures to be used in structural concrete. The intermediate dosages of pigments seem to be more adequate for both mechanical properties and color stability. The technique developed for color assessment and color stability yielded repeatable; reliable results. Applicators are encouraged to employ this technique for controlling concrete pigmentation. Upon modifications, the technique can be utilized to address other concrete surface characteristics such as surface induced damage and appearance characteristics.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFN10 Basic Research and Emerging Technologies Related To Concrete. Alternate title: New Technique for Assessment of Pigmented Portland Cement Concrete.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Ezzeldin, Ahmed Samir Youssef
  • Abou-Zeid, Mohamed Nagib
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Concrete structures; Fresh concrete; Mechanical properties; Pigments; Portland cement concrete; Structural analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01515089
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-2647
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 21 2014 3:16PM