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ADMIXTURES
Definition
Admixtures are chemical/mineral substances (other than fine and coarse
aggregates, cement, or water), which are added in small amounts just before or
during the mixing stage to concrete products.
They can also be blended during the grinding stage of cement manufacturing.
Use

They should normally only be used where it is desirable to modify the properties
of either fresh or hardened concrete (or both) for particular reason when such a
change cannot be effected by changes in the composition or properties of the
normal mix.

Mineral Admixtures
Fly ash or Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA).
Silica Fume or Micro silica.
Rice Husk Ash.
Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS).
Metakaolin.
Reason: Why Fly Ash?
Annually, more than 110 million tonnes of Fly Ash is being generated in India.
Requires approsimately 65,000 acres of land for disposal
Generation of Fly ash:
Fly ash is a solid, fine-grained material resulting from the combustion of
pulverized coal in thermal plant/furnaces
Collection of Fly ash:
Bottom ash: Collected from boiler bottom
Ponded Fly ash: ESP Product Mixed with water
Dry Fly ash : Separated from field B & C and stored in silo for loading in bunkers
Electrostatic Precipitator

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Morphological Characteristics

The spherical particles in a flyash samples are its outstanding features specially in
the context of its use as a pozzolana or admixture in concrete.
Morphology of the particles influenced by modes of collection
Smooth, Glassy surface show higher reactivity.

Smooth, glassy surface

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SEM of Pond Ash.

Chemical Composition
Major constituents of most fly ashes are:
SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO and Loss on Ignition (LOI).
Other elements are MgO, Na2O, K2O, SO3, MnO, TiO2.
The early reaction is due to the presence of silica and alumina in the reactive form
(amorphous).
Long term strength is due to the crystalline form.
Presence of alkalies may affect durability adversely although they may act as
activators during the early stage reaction.
Activity of the ash is influenced by the presence of important chemical constituent
calcium.
un burnt Carbon Is the Most Important Component of LOI
The higher the carbon content of a fly ash, the more water is needed to produce a
paste of normal consistency.
IS: 3812 Specifications
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES for Grade I & II of FA (percentage by mass)
Characteristic Bituminous Coal Ash
Lignite Ash
70.0
50.0
1.
SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3 (min.)
(min.)
35.0
25.0
2.
SiO2
3.
Soluble silica
(min)
25.0
20.0
4.
MgO
(max)
5.0
4.0
5.
Total Sulphur as SO3 (max)
2.75
2.5
(max) 1.50
1.50
6.
Alkalis as Na2O
7.
Total chlorides
(max)0.05
0.05

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8.
Loss on ignition
(max)5.0
5.0
Types of fly ash
Low-lime fly ash (CaO < 10% )
Exhibit Pozzolanic properties
produces cementitious properties with the help of an
activator (cement or lime).
High-lime fly ash (CaO > 10% )
Exhibit Cementitious properties itself.
Chemical Composition
Chemical
Composition
%
SiO 2

ASTM
C-618
CLASS - F
44

ASTM
C - 618
CLASS - C
41

INDIA
FLY ASH
RANGE
37-66

RTPS
PROCESSED
FLY ASH
61

Al2 O 3

22

20

20-31

25

Fe 2 O 3

2--12

5.0

SO 3
CaO
MgO
Moisture
LOI
SP-GR
Glass Content
Phases:

0.5
4
1.5
0.6
1.0
2.18
80 - 84
Quartz
Mullite
Hematite
Megnetite
Carbon
-------

0.3 - 1.0
1.3 - 5.0
0.3 - 2.9
1.0 - 12
0.3 - 8.8
2.10 - 2.52
--------------3.0 - 8.0
60-85
1.5 - 12

0.3
4.0
0.3
1.6
1.2
2.2
> 84
Quartz
Mullite
Hematite
Megnetite

LR Mpa
CR %
Carbon %

2
17
3
0.3
1.0
2.5
80 - 86
Quartz
Periclase
Ferrite
Spinel
Melilite
Merisinite
-------

> 5.0
> 80
< 1.5

Mineralogical composition

Fly ashes consist of non-crystalline particles or glass, and a small amount of

crystalline material.
Major crystalline phases: Quartz, Mullite, Magnetite, and Hematite in subbituminous fly ashes.

X-RD Scan of Fly Ash(Amorphous Phase)

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X-RD of RTPS Pond Ash.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FLY ASH

Grain size distribution
Grain size distribution plays an important role in determining the activity of fly
ash. The particles in the size range of 5 to 30 m plays a decisive role in
determining the activity of fly ash.
For fly ashes with low glass content and normal carbon, the reactivity was found
to be directly proportional to the amount of particles smaller than 10 m, and
inversely proportional to the amount of particles greater than 45 m for low
calcium fly ashes.
The particles below 45 m, which are mostly present in an amorphous form or as
glass in the ash, are responsible for the pozzolanic effect.
But the enhancement in compressive strength appears to be related more to
particle sizes below 10 20 m.

Fineness
One of the principal parameters to define the aptitude of the ash to be added to
cement as it influences the rate of development of mechanical strength and
relative values to be attained.
However, there is an optimal fineness above which the increase in strength
becomes less significant because of the increase in the specific surface.
Researchers have also stated that finer the fly ash, the higher is the pozzolanic
activity.
Fineness can be expressed in terms of specific surface area determined by
Blaines Air Permeability method.
The values are seen to range from 200 600 m2/kg

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Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity varies significantly for particles of different shape, color and
chemical composition
Irregular shaped, black, coal particles, which contain few mineral grains, have a
specific gravity between 1.3 and 1.6 - are non-reactive and dilute the active
Pozzolanic material in fly ash
Variations in the particle densities is due to the presence of bubbles in the glassy
particles and voids in the agglomerated particles
In general, it appears that specific gravity does not have any direct influence on
the reactivity of the ash
IS: 3812 Specifications
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Characteristic
Grade I
1.Fineness-specific surface in m2/kg by
Blaines permeability method, minimum 320
2.Particles retained on 45 micron IS sieve
(wet sieving) in percent, maximum.
34

Grade II
250
40

3.Lime reactivity average compressive

4.5
3.5
strength in N/mm2 , minimum
4.Compressive strength at 28 days --- Not less than 80%, minimum of the strength of core.
Plain cement mortar cubes

Properties of Concrete with Pozzolans

Hydration Process
Sio2+Ca(OH)2
CSH
A- Cement
B- Water
C- CSH
D-Calcium Hydroxide
Pozzolanic activity of fly ash
Hydration Process
Sio2+Ca(OH)2
CSH
A- Cement
B- Water
C- CSH
D- Calcium Hydroxide
Reaction products may include
Calcium aluminate hydrate (C4AH19)
Ettringite (C3A.3CS.H32)
6

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Gehlenite (C2A.S.H8)
Calcium mono sulpho aluminate hydrate
(C3A.CS.H12)
Provides reduced settling and more homogeneous concrete
The mix is strongly cohesive and, in consequence, there is very little bleeding or
even none.
Blocking of the capillary pore/ channels both by physical action due to fine
particle size and due to the formation of new products of pozzolanic reaction results in
lower permeability of concrete

Increased Compressive and Tensile strength due to lack of Bleed pockets and
formation of dense hydrated cement paste.

Permeability
The use of pozzolanic material reduces the permeability by refining the capillary
pores(regarded as flaws in concrete)

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Increased surface area, as determined by air permeability tests, in many cases

correlates well with quality of a fly ash from a single source

Reduced Permeability means more resistance to chemical attack, (Sulphate

attack, Acid attack, Chloride induced corrosion etc.,)

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Applications
Innovative Applications
Blended cements
Fly ash Concrete
High Volume Fly Ash Concrete
Self Compacting Concrete
Roller Compacting Concrete
Geo-technical Applications
Building blocks
Structural fills
Fine Aggregate
Agricultural applications
Waste stabilization
Others (as filler in paints, metal castings etc.,)
Concluding Remarks
Fly ash is produced in large quantities in India and requires to be utilised for
sustainability of resources.
Indian fly ashes are mostly Class F fly ashes containing low calcium content.
It contributes to strength and durability by way of filler effect and pozzolanic
action. It enhances workability and cohesion due its spherical nature.
It has become an important component of cement concrete.
Reference:
1. Properties of Concrete, A.M. Neville, Fourth Edition, Pearson Education Asia pvt.,
Ltd., 2000.
2. Concrete- Microstructure, Properties and Materials, P.K. Mehta and Palulo J.M.
Monteiro, Tata Mcgraw Hill., 2006.
3. Concrete Technolgy Theory and Practice, M.S. Shetty, S. Chand and Company
Ltd.,, 2005.
4. Current Literature..,

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