Muhammad Hasnain

Registration no – 2018282

Assignment 1 -post mids

Course CV 215 – concrete Technology

Title - plastisizers and its action

Submitted to – DR ASHRAF TANOLI

Plasticizers:
Plasticizers are admixture which is added to concrete(fresh) for reducing of water content to
increase workability.
Plasticizers are highly water reducing admixture by which water cement ratio can be control
and high strength can be achieved. The process by which we plasticizers reduce water cement
ratio is called plasticizing action or mechanism.
Plasticizing action:

The main action of plasticizers is to produce fluidity in the mix and improve the workability of
concrete.

The mechanism of the process may be explained as follows:

(i)Dispersion:
Portland cement being very fine, its particles have a tendency to move and collect in pockets of
the wet concrete forming bunch of particles. In other words cement has a tendency to
flocculate in wet concrete. These bunch of cement particles entrap certain amount of water
used in the mix. Thus the total water used in the mix is not available for producing fluidity in the
mix When plasticizers are used, their surface active agents are attracted and hold at the surface
of cement particles i.e. the surface active agents are adsorbed on the cement particles. Due to
this adsorption the cement particles get negatively charged and produce repulsive force on the
particles, which repulse the particles away from each other and neutralize the force of
attraction of the particles resulting in stabilizing their dispersion

(ii) Retarding Effect:

The plasticizer gets adsorbed on the surface of cement particles and forms a thin film. This film
prevents the surface hydration reaction between the water and cement particles as long as
sufficient molecules of Plasticizer are available at the particle or solution interface. The quantity
of available plasticizer will decrease progressively as the polymers become entrapped in
hydration products.

Following mechanisms are involved in plasticizing action.

1 Reduction in the surface tension of water.

2. Development of electrostatic repulsion between cement particles.

3. Development of lubricating film between cement particles

4. Dispersion of cement grains and release of entrapped water with in cement floes.

5. Prevention of surface hydration reaction of the cement particles, leaving more water for the
fluidity of the mix.

2)CORROSION INHIBITING ADMIXTURES

Corrosion inhibitors are admixtures that either extend the time to corrosion initiation or
significantly reduce the corrosion rate of embedded metal in RCC.

Corrosion-inhibiting admixtures are effective after the concrete has hardened and give a long-term
increase in the passivation state of steel reinforcement and other embedded metals in concrete
structures.

The four most common types of corrosion inhibiting admixture are: Amine Carboxylate. These are
available as concentrated liquids or powders which are absorbed on to the steel bars surfaces and
create protective molecular layer of amine carboxylate that prevents further reactions between
corrosive elements and embedded reinforcement.

• Amine-ester Organic Emulsion. It is used to extend the life span of reinforced concrete structures
subjected to chlorides. These are available as a milky-white emulsion which creates protective layer
on the steel surface and a decrease chloride permeability of the concrete.

• Calcium Nitrite. These are Available as a 30% solution of calcium nitrite. It is categorized as an
anodic inhibitor that interferes with the chloride complexing process by oxidizing the more easily
attacked form of iron to the more stable form It is not applicable for poor-quality concrete or
concrete with very low clear cover over the reinforcing steel • Organic Alkenyl Dicarboxylic Acid
Salt. Available as a water-based solution. It can be classified as a dual-action corrosion inhibitor,
affecting the anodic reaction at the steel and restricting moisture used in the cathodic reaction.

Why Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures are used?

Many substances such as chloride and carbonation can be cause of passivation layer of iron
hydroxides on the steel surface and corrosion would eventually occur. For these reasons,
admixtures that mitigate the corrosion process are useful in extending the life of concrete