Abstract
The authors investigated the effects of the addition of a cellulosic viscosity agent on the microstructure of cement paste with the aim of evaluating the durability of self-compacting concrete containing a viscosity agent. The permeability of such concrete was also investigated experimentally from the aspect of microstructure with reference to chloride ion penetration and carbonation. As a result, the addition of a viscosity agent was found to lead to formation of microstructures without weak transition zones at aggregate boundaries. This reduced the total capillary voids, causing the permeability to be equal to or lower than that of plain concrete having the same water-cement ratio. The use of ground granulated blast-furnace slag in place of part of fine aggregate in the concrete improved its durability.
