Self-curing Concrete using Baby Diapers Polymer

Quality of the construction project is very crucial issue nowadays. Sometimes works are carried out in place where there is acute shortage of water and the application of water curing is not possible for reasons of economy. There are several papers studied on internal curing agent and effect to the concrete such as from Polyethylene Glycol (PEG400), ceramic and Super Absorbent Polymer that make them beneficial for engineering and construction applications. Year by year, increasing of waste from disposable diapers will give impact to dumping area. Internal curing agent that used in this research is new diapers contain of super absorbent polymer, which becomes a gel-like substance when wet and absorb the water. Diapers are primarily worn by infants, and by children who are not yet potty trained or who experience bedwetting. In this research, it will be analyzed by investigating the workability and compressive strength impact to the concrete. Design Mix with size of cube 100 x 100 x 100mm has been testing day 3, 7, 28 and 90 days with the ratio from 0% as a control and 1%, 2%, 3%, 5% and 10%. From the result that had obtained, 1% of diapers polymers can conclude that the internal curing process can help to improve the hydration process. When the hydration process occurs, the polymer can transfer the water to all part of the concrete and to the hydration point it results the early age cracking can be preventing and promotes maximization of cement hydration, potentially contributing to increase the strength and the fluid transport coefficients can be reduced.