Admixtures

Mansoor A M Azam Q Qureshi hi NUST

Definition
Admixtures are those ingredients in concrete other than Portland P tl d cement, t water, and aggregates that are added to the mixture immediately before or during g mixing.

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

Reason for Use of Admixture

To reduce the cost of concrete construction To achieve certain properties in concrete more effectively than by other means o e e ect ve y t a ot e ea s To maintain the quality of concrete during the stages of mixing transporting placing and mixing, transporting, placing, curing in adverse weather conditions To overcome certain emergencies during concreting operations

Admixture Effectiveness
The effectiveness of an admixture depends upon:
Type, brand, and amount of cementing yp g materials Water content Aggregate shape, gradation and proportions g Mixing time Slump p Temperature of the concrete.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 4

Admixture s Admixtures Classification

Air-entraining admixtures Water-reducing admixtures W d i d i Plasticizers Accelerating admixtures Retarding admixtures Hydration-control admixtures Corrosion inhibitors C hb Shrinkage reducers Alkali-silica reactivity inhibitors i hibi Coloring admixtures Miscellaneous admixtures such as
workability, bonding, damp proofing proofing, permeability reducing, grouting, g gas-forming, g, anti washout, foaming, pumping admixtures

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

Brief History of Admixture Use

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

Plasticizer (Water Reducer) Admixtures

A material, which either increases workability of freshly mixed concrete without increasing water cement ratio or maintains workability with a reduced amount of water, i t ith d d t f t is termed as d water reducing admixture. Reduction in water depends on dose of
Admixtures cement content type of aggregate ratio of cement ,fine and coarse aggregate fine
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 7

Plasticizers - Chemical Composition:

Lignosulfonic acids, derivatives and their salts. Hydroxylated carboxylic acids, their salts and derivatives. Naphthalene sulphonic acid based Sulfonated melamine polycondensation products Blends f b Bl d of above Inorganic material like borates, phosphates, amines and their derivatives, carbohydrates, i d th i d i ti b h d t sugar and certain polymeric compounds like cellulose, ethers etc.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 8

Plasticizers - Advantages
Increase the workability of the concrete y without reducing the compressive strength High strength ca be obta e w t the g st e gt can obtained with t e same cement content by reducing water cement ratio. Saving in the quantity of cement (approx. upto 10%) can be achieved keeping the same water/ cement ratio and workability.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 9

Effect on Cement Particals

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

10

Use of Plasticizers:
Description of mix Reference Plasticizes Dosage. Cement W/C Slump Ratio cm 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.56 0.54 0.6 0.6 7 10 12 7 7 7 7 Compressive strength N/mm2 1 day 7 7 6 7 8 7 6 3 days 18 18 17 21 23 19 19 7 days 26 28 27 32 33 28 27 28 days 34 37 35 41 44 36 35

% cement wt kg/m3 -0.2% 0.3% 300 300 300 300 300 280 270

Strength increase 0.2% 0.3% Cement saving 0.2% 0.3%

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

11

Rate of Slump Loss - Plasticizer

Setting Time Retardation by Plasticizers

Effects of Plasticizer

Fluidize the mortar or concrete. Reduces water requirement by 5-15% . Improves workability. Increase in slump from p y p 30-150 mm. May entrain air at a small percentage(1-2%). Likely to retard setting and hardening. Increase in concrete strength 10 20%. g Rapid slump loss. Small effect on drying shrinkage.

Super Plasticizer
Super Plasticizers are water reducers, p chemically different from the plasticizers or normal water reducer and capable of p reducing water content by about 30% or increasing slump upto 200mm without g p p causing segregation or bleeding in concrete.

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

15

Super Plasticizer Chemical Composition

Sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensates Sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates Modified lignosulfonates Others such as sulfonic acid esters and carbohydrate esters b h d t t

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

16

Advantages
Cement content can be reduced to a greater extent keeping the same water/cement ratio. This will lead p g to economy. Water-cement ratio can be reduced significantly keeping same cement content and workability. This will lead to increase in strength. Higher workability at very low water cement ratio like casting concrete with heavy reinforcement.. Reduction in R d i i permeability bili Where early strength development is required in prestressed concrete or casting of floor where early floor, access for finishing equipment is required.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 17

Effect of use of Super Plasticizers

SN I II III IV

Dosage in Lt/50 g kg of cement Control Mix 0.2 0.4 0.6

W/C ration Cement content Slump in mm p

kg/m3

0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55

350 350 350 350

50 80 150 200

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

18

Slump Loss Due to Super Plasticizer

Slump loss at 32C (90F) in flowing concretes (TN,TM,TB, and TX) compared with control mixture (TC)
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 19

Retardation in Setting Time

Retardation of set in flowing concrete with Super plasticizers (N, M, B, and X) relative to control mixture
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 20

Strength Development
Compressive strength development i d l t in flowing concretes. C is the th control t l mixture. Mixtures FN, FM, and FX contain super plasticizers

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

21

Effect on Air Content

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

22

Effects on Bleeding of Concrete

Bleeding of flowing concretes with plasticizers (N, M, B, and X) compared to control (C)

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

23

Retarding Admixtures

Retard setting time of concrete. Retardation g of up to 10 hours is possible. Help obta a c tectu a finishes. e p obtain architectural s es. Reduce slump loss. Offset effects of hot weather weather. Reduction in early strength expected. Affects on shrinkage unpredictable.

Chemical Composition
Lignosulphonic acids and their salts. e.g. g p g Na, Ca or NH4, Hydro-carboxylic acids and their salts. y o ca bo y c ac s a t e sa ts. Carbohydrates including sugar. Inorganic salts based on flourates flourates, phosphates, oxides, borax and magnesium salts. salts

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

25

Advantages of Retarders
Improves workability, cohesion and extends setting time, provides protection against delays and stoppages and facilitates keeping workable concrete for extended period. In the large construction, good workability of the concrete throughout the placing period and prevention of cold joints is ensured by adding retarders in the concrete. Extended setting time minimise risks of long distance delivery ot w at , p ov s pu pab ty o co c t t in hot weather, improves pumpability of concrete by extended setting period and improved workability of concrete. Reduces bleeding and segregation where poor sand grading are unavoidable. Reduces adverse environmental effects of various nature on concrete and embedded steel by considerable reduction in p permeability. y
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 26

Materials - Retarders
Gypsum. Gypsum Starches. Cellulose. C ll l Sugar. Acids and salts. Lignosulphonic acids and theirs salts. g p Hydroxylated carboxylic acids and their salts. Calcium Acetate

Accelerators
Accelerators are admixtures which increase the rate of early strength development in h f l hd l concrete to:
Permit early removal of formwork. Reduce curing period. Early use of structure. Compensate effects of low temperature. Emergency repair work.

Accelerators
Material Accelerators Alkali Hydroxides, Alk l H d d Silicates Fluoro-Silicates Organic Compounds, Calcium Formates, Calcium Nitrates Calcium ThioSulphates Aluminium Chlorides Potassium Carbonates Sodium Chlorides Calcium Chlorides. Mechanism Accelerators Not N explicitly understood. l l d d Set accelerate formation of ettringite. Inorganic accelerate rate of dissolution of tricalcium silicate resulting in b tt hydration. i better h d ti Hardening accelerators reduce distance between CSH to interaction and better strength.

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

29

Advantages
Shortens the setting time of cement and therefore increases the rate of gain of strength strength. Enables earlier release from precast moulds thus speeding production. Reduces segregation and increase density and compressive strength. Cures concrete faster and therefore uniform curing in winter and summer can be achieved. Early use of concrete floors by accelerating the setting of concrete concrete. Reduces water requirements, bleeding, shrinkage and time required for initial set.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 30

Calcium Chloride
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is the chemical most commonly used i t l d in accelerating l ti admixtures, especially for non reinforced concrete. Should not exceed 2% by mass of cementing material. An A overdose can result i placement d lt in l t problems and can be detrimental to concrete. It may cause: rapid stiffening, a y p g large increase in drying shrinkage, corrosion of reinforcement, and loss of strength at later ages
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 31

Air Entraining Admixtures

Allow introuction of fine air bubbles in concrete . Entrapped air remains even after hardening. May M result i loss of strength. lt in l f t th Require good control of dosage being effective. ff

Chemical Composition
Abietic and pimeric acid salts p Fatty Acid salts Alkyl - aryl sulphonates Alkyl sulphonates Phenol ethoxylates Ph l h l

11/29/2012

Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1

33

Advantages
Durability Reduced bleeding d R d d bl di and segregation b i because of : f linking them. g

Attachment of air bubbles with cement particle and

Increase in inter particle attraction caused by adsorption of air entrainer. Bubble acting as extra fine filler and increased total surface area of constituents relative to water volume. Water flow between cement particles is restricted.

Workability increased due to action of air bubbles as ball bearing which assist movement of particles each other.
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 34

Other Admixtures
HYDRATION-CONTROL ADMIXTURE . CORROSION INHIBITORS INHIBITORS. CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES TO REDUCE ALKALI-AGGREGATE REACTIVITY (ASR INHIBITORS) SHRINKAGE REDUCING SHRINKAGE-REDUCING ADMIXTURES. COLORING ADMIXTURES (PIGMENTS) PUMPING AIDS DAMPPROOFING ADMIXTURES BONDING ADMIXTURES AND BONDING AGENTS PERMEABILITY-REDUCING ADMIXTURES GROUTING ADMIXTURES FUNGICIDAL, GERMICIDAL, AND INSECTICIDAL ADMIXTURES ANTIWASHOUT ADMIXTURES GAS-FORMING ADMIXTURES
11/29/2012 Plain and Reinforced Concrete - 1 35