The effect of sealers on the freeze-thaw resistance of mortar

The freeze-thaw resistance of eight types of mortar specimens treated with 57 concrete sealers was determined. The reduction in water uptake resulting from the presence of sealer did not, in general, improve the freeze-thaw durability based on failure criteria of 0.02% expansion. Inverse relationship seems to exist between the sealer caused reduction of water uptake and freeze-thaw durability, as evidence by the plot of the average percent expansion vs. average water uptake. The results emphasize the importance of water transfer through the surface zone in partially saturated systems, a phenomenon not considered by the hydrostatic pressure theory.