# Investigation of Hydrophysical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Modified Self-Compacting Concretes

## TL;DR

This paper explores how adding specific materials improves the durability of concrete in harsh environments like freezing and aggressive soils.

## Contribution

A novel complex modifier combining hyperplasticizer, polymer, microsilica, and fibro fibers is introduced to enhance SCC performance.

## Key findings

- Modified SCC achieved water resistance up to W16 and frost resistance up to F = 500.
- Compressive strength increased by 20%, and mass loss during corrosion leaching was reduced to 50%.
- The modified SCC showed high resistance in aggressive environments and leaching corrosion.

## Abstract

Improvement of hydrophysical properties and corrosion resistance of self-compacting concrete to the effects of alternate freezing–thawing and aggressive soils of Southern and Central Kazakhstan is of interest to a wide range of researchers from the side of practical application of the obtained results in construction practice. It is proposed to form a spatially reinforced fine crystalline structure of a cement matrix with the maximum dense packing by using a complex modifier (hyperplasticizer + polymer + microsilica + fibro fibers) in the composition of self-compacting concretes (SCCs). The introduction of the calculated amount of the above additives increases the operational reliability of the current SCC compositions, increasing the water resistance to W16, frost resistance to F = 500, increasing the compressive strength by 20%, and reducing the mass loss of samples during corrosion leaching to 50%. It has been experimentally established that the proposed addition of the complex modifier (hyperplasticizer + polymer + microsilica + fibro fibers) to the SCC composition allows obtaining self-compacting concrete of high quality with improved performance characteristics (compressive strength, water resistance, frost resistance, and corrosion resistance). Studies have shown that the complex modifier-modified SCC compositions have a high degree of resistance in aggressive environments and leaching corrosion. Based on the results of the conducted tests, it is possible to recommend the obtained SCC compositions for the production of building products working in the zone of alternating freezing–thawing and aggressive soils.