Crack-reducing admixture for cementitious compositions

A method of reducing or eliminating the formation of cracks in a cementitious composition as the cementitious composition cures, comprising adding to the uncured cementitious composition at least one crack reducing admixture comprising:

• (i) from 0 to about 5 weight percent of at least one alcohol, based on the total weight of the admixture excluding water;
• and (ii) a compound having the chemical structure of formula (III):
• wherein:
• v is an integer from 0 to 50;
• and
• w is an integer from 0 to 50;
• with the proviso that the sum of v and w is at least 1 but not greater than 50;
• and
• wherein, during curing, the cementitious composition exhibits no cracks wider than about 175 μm.

A method of limiting the size of cracks which form in a cementitious composition as the cementitious composition cures to a width of less than or equal to about 175 μm, comprising adding to the uncured cementitious composition at least one crack reducing admixture comprising:

• (i) from 0 to about 5 weight percent of at least one alcohol, based on the total weight of the admixture excluding water;
• and (ii) a compound having the chemical structure of formula (III):
• wherein:
• v is an integer from 0 to 50;
• and
• w is an integer from 0 to 50;
• with the proviso that the sum of v and w is at least 1 but not greater than 50.