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Abstract
Air-entraining agents are widely used in cement technology to improve durability; however, their incorporation often leads to a reduction in compressive strength due to increased porosity. In this study, a bio-based glycolipid surfactant, acidic sophorolipid (ASL), is investigated as a novel air-entraining agent for cementitious systems. Cement pastes containing varying ASL concentrations (0.005–0.09 wt%) were prepared and evaluated at different hydration ages (3, 7, 28, 90, and 360 days).
The results demonstrate a significant increase in air content with increasing ASL dosage, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in bulk density. Despite this, compressive strength exhibited a non-linear behavior, with an optimal performance achieved at 0.025 wt% ASL. Microstructural analysis revealed a refined and homogeneous pore structure with uniformly distributed air voids.
The improved performance is attributed to the amphiphilic nature of ASL and its ionization under alkaline conditions, which enhances interaction with Ca²⁺ ions and stabilizes air bubbles. These findings highlight the potential of ASL as a sustainable and efficient air-entraining agent for lightweight cementitious materials.
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