Concrete Prepared Using Electrolyzed Water Revealed Benefits in Controlling the Early Age Properties

Abstract

To facilitate rapid hardening of concrete and to increase production rate, particularly at the precast manufacturing site, the use of electrolyzed water containing molecular hydrogen (H2) and hydroxyl ions (OH-) would be an effective alternative to the existing chemical set accelerators. In this study, electrolysis of water was performed by applying direct current (DC) voltage for 30 min using Pt and Ti electrodes separated by a polymeric membrane. Two types of concrete specimens were prepared using normal distilled water (CC) and 30-min electrolyzed water (30MEC) to compare the impact of electrolyzed water on the performances of concrete. The results revealed that the use of electrolyzed water for the fabrication of concrete (30MEC) not only improves the physical properties (e.g., bulk densities, apparent porosity, and water absorption) but also enhances the compressive strength by approximately 14.4%, 9.3%, and 4.9% and flexural strength by (approximately 16.7%, 12.8%, and 5.3%) than that of the concrete fabricated using normal water (CC) cured for 3, 7, and 28 days, respectively. The accelerated chemical reaction of cement particle due to the presence of OH- ions in the electrolyzed water may lead to improve the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. Finally, the plausible mechanism behind the early setting and strength gaining capability of electrolyzed water-based concrete has been explained based on the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Mercury intrusion porosity (MIP) analysis.