STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WHITE CONCRETE COMPARED TO GREY CONCRETE AND ITS APPLICATION IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS

SUMMARY

This paper presents a study on the behavior of white concrete, comparing it to gray concrete in terms of production and properties in the fresh and hardened states. Compositions of strength classes C30/37 and C40/50 were analyzed for white and gray concrete, focusing on the development of compressive strength.
The results indicated that white concrete presents an accelerated gain in compressive strength in the first seven days, a behavior that is reversed in the period between 7 and 28 days, when the development becomes slower compared to gray concrete.
Factors such as the water/cement ratio and the degree of compaction were shown to be decisive in the compressive strength of the concrete, while the greater fineness of the white cement contributed to greater water absorption, making it difficult to obtain concrete with a fluid consistency. Technical problems related to the interaction of white cement with superplasticizers, variations in the color of the white concrete and thermal shrinkage cracks were identified, with specific recommendations to mitigate them.
The results of this research provide support for improving the production and application of white concrete, highlighting its advantages and limitations, in addition to proposing practical measures to ensure its structural and aesthetic performance. The work also highlights the importance of specialized technical control throughout the entire production process.

Keywords: White concrete, compressive strength, gray concrete, water/cement ratio.

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Author: Eng. Málik das Neves Boane

Date of publication : 04/06/25