Water-entrained cement-based materials

The invention relates to a method for reducing autogenous shrinkage in a material based on a hydraulic mineral binder, e.g. cement, by preparing a mixture comprising the binder, water and a water-entraining agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogels and microencapsulated water, casting the mixture in a desired configuration, and allowing the mixture to cure. The method is in particular directed to high performance cement-based materials with a low water/cement ratio and optionally comprising ultrafine particles such as silica fume. The water-entraining agent is in particular a hydrogel. Also disclosed are dry compositions comprising fine particles such as cement, ultrafine particles such as silica fume, optionally a dispersing agent such as a concrete superplasticizer, and a water-entraining agent such as a hydrogel.

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