ADMIXTURES FOR CONCRETE

CN 7001 ADVANCED CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

Dr. K.Chinnaraju,
Associate Professor
Division of Structural Engineering
Anna University, Chennai -600 025
 ADMIXTURES

• An additive is a material added to cement clinker at the time of

grinding
• An admixture is a material added to cement, aggregate and water
at the time of mixing
• Admixtures may be defined as the materials other than the basic
ingredients of concrete i.e. cement, aggregates and water added
to the concrete mix immediately before and during the mixing
process to modify one or more specific properties of concrete in
fresh and hardened state
• admixtures are not substitute for good workmanship i.e. the
effect of bad workmanship can not be improved by use the of
admixtures.
• Functions of admixtures
– To accelerate the initial setting and hardening of
concrete
– To retard the initial setting of concrete
– To increase the strength of concrete
– To improve the workability of fresh concrete
– to improve the durability of concrete
– to reduce the heat of evaluation
– to control the alkali aggregate expansion
– to promote the pozzolanic properties in concrete
– to aid in curing of concrete
– to improve the wear resistance to concrete
– to reduce the shrinkage during setting of concrete
– to reduce the bleeding of concrete
– to impart colour to concrete
– to aerate concrete or mortar to produce light weight
product
– to reduce segregation of grout mixes
– to increase the bond between old and new surfaces and
also between concrete and reinforcement
– to produce non skid surface of concrete
– to increase the resistance to chemical attack
– to decrease the permeability of concrete
– to prevent the corrosion of concrete reinforcement
• Classification of Admixtures

1.Natural or mineral admixtures

2. Chemical admixtures
diatomite, a chalky stone formed from the
fossilized skeletons of diatoms and often
used as an abrasive or as a material for
filtering water.
• A solution -- the use of fly ash in concrete
• Fortunately, a portion of the portland cement could be replaced
in concrete by supplementary cementing materials (SCMs)
such as fly ash, a byproduct from coal-burning in thermal power
stations. The replacement can be done either directly at the
concrete batch plant, or during the production of blended
cements.
• Given this scenario, it is imperative that every effort is made in
the extensive use of fly ash, which is abundant in India, to meet
the current construction demands and to decrease the
environmental damage.
• In terms of public good, the greater use of fly ash in concrete
contributes to reduced greenhouse gas (GHGs) emission
without negative impacts on the economy. The overall quantity
of CO2 emitted will be reduced in one important sector of the
economy without affecting it. Such changes in the construction
sector should provide certain flexibility to the governments to
meet emission targets with reduced pressure on other sectors
bound to be more affected by measures of CO2 reduction.
The spherical shape of fly ash creates a "ball-bearing" effect
that fills voids and increases the workability of the mix.