Effect of Stearic Acid on the Strength and Durability Characteristics of Hydrophobic Concrete

Concrete, a very found construction material, has seen significant advancements over the years in terms of durability and functionality. One such advancement is the development of superhydrophobic concrete, a novel modification that enhances the water-repellent properties of conventional concrete. The innovative material is achieved by incorporating hydrophobic agents, such as silica nanoparticles, stearic acid, or fluorinated compounds, into the concrete mix. The primary goal of the work is to investigate the effect on mechanical and durability properties of M40 grade concrete, such as compressive strength test, split tensile strength test, water absorption test, sorptivity test by incorporating the stearic acid and anhydrous ethanol solution was directly mixed into the concrete at various dosages of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50%. Concrete specimens were subjected to two different curing methods: ambient curing and membrane curing, to compare the performance under varying conditions. The results indicated that the incorporation of stearic acid solution, with ambient curing and membrane curing yielded optimal performance, showing the highest compressive strength and split tensile strength indicating enhanced concrete density and internal bonding, along with the lowest water absorption and sorptivity indicating resistance to moisture ingress and improved durability. The stearic acid solution at 1.00% dosage with membrane curing has showed maximum improvement compared to ambient curing. This study concludes that the stearic acid as hydrophobic agent significantly improves the mechanical strength and water resistance of concrete, making it a promising solution for enhancing durability in concrete structures.