Hairline cracks are commonly observed in freshly placed concrete and their occurrence is owed

to the phenomenon of plastic shrinkage. As the name implies, these cracks are very small- about
0.003 inches (0.08mm) in width and can be very shallow.

 Causes of Hairline Cracks in Concrete

The main cause behind the generation of hairline cracks in concrete is plastic shrinkage which is
the rapid depletion of moisture from the fresh concrete within its plastic state.

The causes for these cracks to show up can be due to the variations in air temperature, concrete
temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity at the surface of the concrete. These factors can
cause high rates of evaporation in either hot or cold weather.

The other factors that accelerate the chances of hairline cracks are:

1. Water loss due to absorption by subgrade, formwork or aggregate.

2. Bleeding and sedimentation

3. Poor workmanship and negligence

4. Alkali-Aggregate reactions.

5. Type and content of Portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, silica
fume,etc.)
6. Type and dosage rate of chemical admixtures.
7. Construction operations like screeding and finishing operations.
  Prevention of Hairline Cracks in Concrete

There are many methods and techniques to prevent this type of crack in case of rapid loss of
moisture due to hot weather and dry winds.

1. Dampen the formwork, ensuring that any excess water is removed prior to placing concrete
2. Starting of curing process as soon as possible after finishing.

Repair of Hairline Cracks in Concrete

The steps involved in the repair of hairline cracks in concrete are as follows:

1. Cleaning of Crack

This is the first and foremost step in the repair of hairline cracks in the concrete. Inspection of the
crack is done and if any oil or stains have penetrated the crack and have discoloured the concrete,
the stains will have to be addressed before repairing the crack.

2. Selection of Sealant

The sealant is a filler material that is penetrated into the crack. The ideal sealant must have low
surface tension and low viscosity. These two characteristics allow the liquid sealer to penetrate
deeply into the crack.

Crack repair materials for concrete are often polymer-modified cement grouts, silicone or latex
caulking, or epoxies. Polymer-modified cement grout is the typical material used to fill pinholes
and voids in concrete during manufacture. If cracks occur before the concrete is sealed, this is
often the material used to repair them.

3. Application of Sealant

The selected sealer is applied on the substrate by using a squeegee and/or in combination with
a roller. The application process must be carried out for at least 5-10 mins to ensure penetration.

4. Curing

Proper curing must be ensured to complete hardening of sealant. The warmer the temperature,
faster the curing, lower the temperature, the longer it will take.