Cementitious compositions for decreasing the rate of water vapor emissions from concrete and methods for preparing and using the same

A cementitious composition for decreasing a rate of water vapor emission from a concrete comprising:

• a hydraulic cement;
• and
• a water vapor attenuation agent;
• wherein the number of days required to achieve a water vapor emission rate of about 3 lb/1000 ft2·24 h from a cementitious mix comprising the cementitious composition is less than or equal to about 15.

A cementitious mix comprising:

• a hydraulic cement having a concentration from about 8% to about 35% by weight based on a total weight of cementitious compounds;
• an aggregate having a concentration from about 50% to about 85% by weight based on the total weight of cementitious compounds;
• a densifying calcium silicate precursor having a concentration from about 2.5% to about 25% by weight based on the total weight of cementitious compounds;
• a water vapor attenuation agent having a concentration from about 3% to about 18% by weight based on the total weight of cementitious compounds;
• an amount of water sufficient to provide a water to cementitious ratio of from about 0.2 to about 0.4;
• and
• a polycarboxylate superplasticizer having a concentration from about 4 ounces to about 16 ounces per 100 pounds of cementitious compounds,
• wherein the cementitious mix is used to prepare a concrete having an attenuated water vapor emission.

A cementitious mix comprising:

• a hydraulic cement having a concentration from about 8% to about 35% by weight based on a total weight of cementitious compounds;
• an aggregate having a concentration from about 50% to about 85% by weight based on the total weight of cementitious compounds;
• a water vapor attenuation agent having a concentration from about 3% to about 18% by weight based on the total weight of cementitious compounds;
• and
• an amount of water to provide a water to cementitious ratio of from about 0.2 to about 0.4,
• wherein the number of days required to achieve a water vapor emission rate of about 3 lb/1000 ft2·24 h from the cementitious mix is less than or equal to about 15.

A method of preparing a cementitious mix comprising the steps of:

• mixing a hydraulic cement with at least one of a finely divided material having a particle size of less than about 75 microns and a water vapor attenuation agent;
• and
• adding an amount of water to provide a water to cementitious ratio of from about 0.2 to about 0.4, sufficient to impart a desired plasticity to the cementitious mix,
• wherein the cementitious mix is used to prepare a concrete having an attenuated water vapor emission.

A method of preparing a concrete structure comprising the steps of:

• providing the cementitious composition comprising a hydraulic cement, a finely divided material having a particle size of less than about 75 microns, and a superplasticizer;
• blending an amount of water into the cementitious composition to prepare a cementitious mix;
• using the cementitious mix to preform the concrete structure;
• and
• curing the preformed cementitious mix to a hardened concrete,
• wherein the hardened concrete has an attenuated water vapor emission.

A method of preparing a concrete structure using a cementitious composition comprising the steps of:

• providing the cementitious composition comprising a hydraulic cement and a water vapor attenuation agent;
• blending an amount of water into the cementitious composition to prepare a cementitious mix;
• preparing a preform of the concrete structure using the cementitious mix;
• and
• curing the preformed cementitious mix to a hardened concrete,
• wherein the number of days required to achieve a water vapor emission rate of about 3 lb/1000 ft2·24 h from the cementitious mix is less than or equal to about 15.