CONCRETE ADMIXTURES

admixtures, Concrete, concrete strength, cracking, silica flume

Types of Admixtures

concrete admix liquid 1 ) Chemical Chemical admixtures reduce the cost of construction, modify properties of hardened concrete, ensure quality of concrete during mixing/transporting/placing/curing, and overcome certain emergencies during concrete operations. Chemical admixtures are used to improve the quality of concrete during mixing, transporting, placement and curing. They fall into the following categories:

air entrainers water reducers set retarders set accelerators superplasticizers specialty admixtures: which include corrosion inhibitors, shrinkage control, alkali-silica reactivity inhibitors, and coloring.

2 ) Mineral Mineral admixtures make mixtures more economical, reduce permeability, increase strength, and influence other concrete properties.

concrete admix powder Mineral admixtures affect the nature of the hardened concrete through hydraulic or pozzolanic activity. Pozzolans are cementitious materials and include natural pozzolans (such as the volcanic ash used in Roman concrete), fly ash and silica fume. They can be used with Portland cement, or blended cement either individually or in combinations. 3 ) ASTM categories of admixtures

ASTM C494 specifies the requirements for seven chemical admixture types. They are: Type A: Water-reducing admixtures Type B: Retarding admixtures Type C: Accelerating admixtures Type D: Water-reducing and retarding admixtures Type E: Water-reducing and accelerating admixtures Type F: Water-reducing, high range admixtures Type G: Water-reducing, high range, and retarding admixtures

WHAT SPECIAL PERFORMANCE DO YOU NEED? High Strength Concrete Admixtures containing microsilica (condensed silica fume) are used to meet high strength and low permeability requirements. Benefits include reduced permeability, increased compressive and flexural strengths, and increased durability. Applications include high-strength structural columns, less permeable parking garage decks, and abrasion resistant hydraulic structures.

Silica fume can be used in concrete to produce compressive strengths approaching 20,000 psi under jobsite conditions. This admixture can be added in a slurry or in a dry form, whichever meets the batching equipment needs. In either case, performance is the same. Strength Enhancement Concrete strength enhancement can be achieved through use of superplasticizer admixtures to produce a low water/cement ratio giving high performance concrete. These admixtures promote a high slump, extremely flowable concrete that achieves high strengths while providing superior workability and pumpability. High range water-reducing admixtures can also be used for precast/prestressed structures where it is desirable to keep the water/cement ratio to a minimum for low permeability and high early strengths without set retardation.They are also used for concrete requiring high-early stripping strengths. Set Retardation Set retarders are used where delay in setting time is required to ensure sufficient placement, vibration or compaction time. Set retarders permit application of higher temperature curing of precast/prestressed concrete without negatively affecting the ultimate strength.

Applications: Long hauls Trucks waiting a long time even for a small pour Undermanned placement crew Slow pour rate

Things to consider: Project location long or short haul Size of pour Rate of pour Placement method Environment exterior, interior Thick sections (if dry windy conditions, early surface drying while the underlying concrete is still soft can make finishing difficult and result in a wavy or cracked surface When a set retarder may not be required Short hauls with quick placement Cool moist interior location

Residential or commercial basement Fast pour rate Set Acceleration Set accelerators work by accelerating cement hydration, which results in shortened setting times and increased early age strengths, particularly in cooler temperatures. They increase the rate of early strength development and reduce time required for curing and protection At one time, calcium chloride was the predominant accelerating admixture. However, it is now considered by many to be a main contributor to long-term concrete problems. In Europe, use of calcium chloride is banned for some applications. Chloride is considered to contribute to corrosion of reinforcement or embedded metal in concrete. In turn this corrosion has been associated with spalling, cracking, loss of bond and if left uncorrected can cause eventual failure of the element involved. Now, chloride-free set accelerators are available based upon other chemicals. Some of these newer admixtures also can act as ASTM C494 Type E water-reducers. Corrosion Protection Reinforced concrete that is exposed to deicing salts and marine environments is particularly susceptible to chloride-induced corrosion. A well-designed, durable, low permeability concrete mix will provide some protection against chloride-induced corrosion of reinforcement. Corrosion inhibitors can be effective in parking structures, bridges and marine environments. Other ways of reducing corrosion are to use penetrating surface sealers to help prevent chloride penetration, epoxy-coated rebar, or silica fume in the mix. Silica fume can increase durability and reduce permeability. Non-chloride containing set accelerator admixtures are available which conform to ASTM C 494 Type C. Calcium chloride has been used in the past because it is relatively inexpensive and provides set acceleration and early strength development. However, the corrosive effects of the chloride have been observed as much as 20 years after the concrete was poured. Thus, non-chloride containing admixtures have been developed for use where potential corrosion of embedded or stressed steel must be avoided. As with all other admixtures, manufacturers instructions for its use in conjunction with other admixtures and dosage must be followed to be effective.

Water Reduction in the Mix Water reducers have become so important in concrete, that they could be considered the fifth ingredient. They can be used to: (1) increase slump, (2) lower the water-cement ratio, or (3) reduce cement content. Water reducers come as Low Range, Mid Range, and High Range Superplasticizers. There are enough different admixtures available that it is possible to select one that meets the need of a particular project whether it is tall columns that need a mix that pumps easily, or an easy-tofinish durable floor slab. In general, they provide the required slump with less water in the mix, and may provide higher strength concrete without increasing the amount of cement. Conventional water reducers Are required to achieve a minimum 5% water reduction. A conventional water reducer can reduce slump by about 1 to 2 inches without the addition of water. Mid-Range water reducers Can reduce water content by at least 8% and as much as 15%. They tend to be stable over a wider range of temperatures and tend to give more consistent setting times. These reducers work most effectively in mixes designed to have a slump in the range of 4 to 5 inches. Particularly useful in hot weather concreting by counteracting the accelerating effect of high ambient and concrete temperatures Slow the setting rate of concrete Delay initial set of concrete Keep concrete workable during placement High-Range water reducers (superplasticizers) Can reduce water content from 12% to as much as 40% and are typically used in concretes designed to have slumps of 8 to 11 inches. They can be used to either increase slump (by 4 to 8 inches) or lower the water content of hot weather concrete mixes. Used to increase flowability. Flowability Superplasticizers (High-Range Water Reducers) can make a low-to-normal slump concrete into a high-slump flowing concrete which can be placed with little or no vibration. However, the

change in slump usually lasts only about 30 to 60 minutes depending upon the brand and dosage rate. High-range water reducers fall into either ASTM C494 Type F or Type G classification. In either case, they can be used to produce very high slumps without segregation, an ideal situation where increased flowability is necessary due to congested reinforcement. Other applications and benefits of high-range water reducers include: difficult wall placements narrow forms sections with blockouts, penetrations, or embedded items pumping high vertical distances fast placement of concrete increased lift heights and free fall distances Note: The increased thinness of the concrete mix means that forms should be tight to prevent leakage even through small joints which can result in fins and discoloration. Type F superplasticizers Added at the job site and keep concrete flowable for a short period of time. At some point, the concrete will lose slump quickly. Type G superplasticizers Can be added either during batching or at the job site. This admixture will delay setting, but cause the concrete to be flowable for a longer period of time which could delay finishing. If haul times are particularly long, Type G can be added at the plant. However, if delivery is delayed too long, the effects can be diminished. Redosing is possible to regain the plasticity of the mix and manufacturers recommendations should be followed closely. Concrete Admixtures that Control Cracking (Reducing Drying or Shrinkage Cracking) Hydrated cement paste shrinks as it loses moisture from its extremely small pores. As the moisture is lost in these small pores, the surface tension of the remaining water tends to pull the pores together which results in a loss of volume over time. Shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRAs) are designed to decrease the effects of drying shrinkage by reducing the surface tension in these pores. It should be noted that the type of aggregate and the cement properties themselves can influence the amount of cracking that can occur. Thus, it is important to test local project-specific materials if doing shrinkage testing.

Curing also affects cracking. In slabs, the top tends to dry out first and shrinks while the lower sections still have a higher moisture content. This difference in moisture can be altered by use of Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures, which alter the way water migrates through the concrete and results in a more uniform moisture profile.