Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.

Admixtures:
Admixture is the name given to those chemical or natural substances that are used in the mixing
of concrete so as to improve the various properties of it. Admixtures are added immediately before or after the
mixing of the concrete. Another term “Additives” is used for those agents that are added during the
manufacturing process of the cement and hence enhance its properties. The proper amount of admixture in a
mix and considering the compatibility with cement, the admixtures must be tested with the sample of cement so
as to find out whether they are compatible with the cement or not, without proper knowledge of concrete and
admixtures, the admixtures are of no use because the admixtures can also have opposite effects on properties of
concrete if not properly tested and added in a calculated amount.

Types Of Admixtures:
Mainly there are two types of admixtures I-e
Chemical admixtures.
Mineral admixtures.
Chemical Admixtures:
These admixtures are manufactured in the laboratories and are made to effect different properties of
concrete:
 Plasticizers:
Plasticizers are also known as water reducers because they reduce the amount of water in a mix by
the plasticizing action on the cement particles and hence breaking “Flocculation”.
Plasticizers when added to the mix, the particles of the admixtures attaches to the particles of the
cement that have entrapped water and creates a repulsive force between each other hence breaking the
flocculation and releasing the trapped water. The repulsive force created by the particles of the admixture
(Plasticizers) is called “Zeta Potential”.
Plasticizers reduces the water requirement up to 15% and does not affect the workability that is the workability
remains the same.
Plasticizers are mostly used in amount of (0.1 – 0.4 %) by weight of cement.
For Example: Chemplast P-200
 Super Plasticizers:
Super plasticizers are also known as “High range water reducers”. These admixtures have the same
function as that of plasticizers only the function of super plasticizers is improved and different chemicals are
used.
Super plasticizers reduces water requirement up to 20% for the same workability.
The dosage of super plasticizers is (0.7 – 1.0% or 2 %) by weight of cement.
For Example: Chemrite AG 200
Chemrite NN.
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.

 Accelerators:
These are the chemical admixtures that are used to accelerate the hydration process, causing
reduction in the setting time of concrete and hence the concrete hardens quickly. These admixtures are suitable
for use in colder climates because they increase the rate of hydration causing more heat to be released quickly
although the total heat of hydration remains the same, if these admixtures are used in hotter climates, they can
cause cracking in the concrete due to expansion caused by the increased heat of hydration. When used in colder
climates these admixtures reduce the frost damage caused to the concrete by the freezing of the water in the
concrete and hence giving low strength and pores. Note that using accelerators, the strength of the concrete does
not change, it is only achieved faster.
Usage: Accelerators are used:
In colder climates to avoid frost damage.
For repair work and patching in places like hospitals, schools and offices
CaCl is an accelerator, it efficient in accelerating the hydration of calcium silicates. But note that the chloride
ions present in the accelerator can cause corrosion in the steel used in re-enforced concrete so its use should be
avoided in RCC.
 Retarders:
These are the retarding admixtures that are used to increase the setting time of the mix. These
retarders are used in hotter climates when the normal setting time of the mix is shortened, retarders increase the
setting time of the concrete and maintain workability after transportation or in hotter climates and provide better
compaction.
Examples:
Sugar, carbohydrate derivatives, soluble zinc salts, soluble borates
 Air Entrainers:
Air entrainers are used to improve workability of the concrete mix without affecting the porosity
and strength. Air voids of controlled size, shape and amount are introduced in to the mix intentionally, the size
of the entrained air is normally 5 – 8 microns, and the air voids act as ball bearings in the mix causing better
handling and compaction of the concrete.
Air entrainers can reduce the strength of the concrete to a very little extent but it also improves other of its
properties.
Air entrainers are also used in colder climates so as to produce voids and then if the water in the mix expands
due to anomalous expansion of frozen water, it will expand in these voids and won’t cause cracking.
Examples are:
Vinsol Resin
Dadex
These two are the commonly used air entrainers.
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.
Mineral Admixtures:
Mineral admixtures are finely divided siliceous materials which are added to concrete in relatively
large amounts, generally in the range 20 to 70 percent by mass of the total cementitious material.
There are different types of mineral admixtures that are used for improving different properties of the concrete
I-e strength, porosity, durability, resistance against reactions etc.
Mineral admixtures are economical to use and also helps in reducing environmental pollution
Different types of mineral admixtures are discussed below:
 Fly Ash:
Fly ash is a by-product of the burning of coal, it is pozzolonic in nature and is used as a partial replacement of
the cement, and there are two classes of fly ash according to ASTM I-e Class F and Class C fly ash.
Class F fly ash:
It is obtained by the burning of older harder coal, it contains less amount of lime as compared to class c fly ash
hence is only used as a partial replacement of cement that is 20 – 30 % by weight of cement.
Class C fly ash:
This class of fly ash contains more amount of lime and has enough cementitious properties that it can be used
as a total replacement of cement. It is obtained by the burning of younger coal that is rich in calcium oxide.
The following table shows the chemical compounds percentages in Class F fly ash, Class C fly ash and ordinary
Portland cement:
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.

Blast Furnace Slag:

It is also known as ground granulated blast furnace slag GGBFS, it is the by-product of extraction
of iron from its ore, it is formed by quenching the molten iron slag (by-product of iron and steel making) with
water which form granular glassy product that is then dried and grounded to fine powder. It contains
cementitious compounds I-e silica, alumina, lime, MgO. It is the presence of a lot of CaO that helps in
increasing the compressive means binding strength of the material and hence can be used to replace 30 – 70 %
of cement namely Portland blast furnace cement. It provides better strength, durability and appearance to the
concrete and also helps in improving the handling compaction and workability of the concrete mix.
It usage delays the initials setting time of the mix and helps in transportation also, which concludes that the
strength gain will be slow and the heat of hydration will also be less as compared to normal mix. It has been
found that the use of blast furnace slag in the cement provides longer life span to the concrete structures and
improves the ultimate strength, besides this it provides excellent protection against chemical attacks and it also
prevents corrosion in RCC steel wires/bars.

RICE HUSK ASH:

Rice husk ash is a natural waste product and it can be used in concrete for enhancing the strength,
it is a pozzolanic material obtained by the controlled calcination. The field burnt rice husk is a weak pozzolan
because of its crystalline structure hence rice husk should be burnt with controlled heat so as to form amorphous
structure. Hence it proves to be good for concrete against porosity and gives good compaction. RHA is shown
in the figure below:
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.

Silica Fumes:
Silica fume is a mineral admixture, it is used to increase the strength of the concrete but it is
expensive because first of all it, itself is costy and then the super plasticizer has to be used with it so as to
decrease the amount of water required by the silica fumes added.
Silica fume is also referred to as micro-silica or condensed silica fume, however it is more commonly called
silica fume. It is actually a by-product of elemental silicon or ferro-silicon alloys from high purity quartz and
coal in a submerged arc electric furnace, and have an average particle size of about (0.1- 0.5 micrometer) The
gaseous silica SiO oxidizes and condenses into extremely fine particles of amorphous silica hence it is given the
name of silica fumes. The purity of silicon depends upon the ferro-silicon alloy from which the silica is being
extracted. As you can see in the table given below:

Ferrosilicon alloys SiO2 content

FeCrSi 18 – 48%

FeMgSi 44 – 48%

50% ferrosilicon 72 – 77%

70% ferrosilicon 84 – 88%

Silicon metal (98%) 93 – 98%

Silica fumes are found in three states namely:

Bulk Powder
Dry dense silica fumes &
Slurry which contains 50% water, 47% silica fumes and 3% chemical agents, that keeps the particles in
suspension and prevents gelling.
VOLCANIC ASH:
Volcanic ash was first of all used by the Romans as a mineral admixture giving a good strength to the
concrete, hence they were able to build such magnificent structures as the Collosium.
Volcanic ash basically contains pulverized rock minerals and volcanic glass created during the volcanic
eruptions, it is also sometimes found when the gases explode in the atmosphere. Ash is also produced when
magma comes in contact with water.
It is used in concrete by mixing the finely grinded pumice or ash with quicklime, it makes the concrete resistant
to water and also increases the compressive strength of the concrete. It is shown in the figure below:
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.

Available mineral admixtures in Pakistan:

Fly Ash is the most common mineral fly ash available in Pakistan, but the quality of it not
as good as it is in foreign countries that is due to the type of the coal used in the burning process. The fly ash
available in Pakistan has low content of CaO which is necessary for good binding that is why it is not in
common use in Pakistan, researches are being carried to find out economical ways to improve the quality of fly
ash so that it can replace much amount of cement and save a lot of money spent on it.
Apart from fly ash rice husk is also available in Pakistan for us as a mineral admixture. But the use of these
mineral admixtures is very rare in Pakistan that’s because of less research work done on this topic in Pakistan.

REFERANCES:
http://pecongress.org.pk/images/upload/books/656.pdf
http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~paulmont/165/mineral%20admixtures.pdf
http://www.aryabetonarg.com/resources/04-+C494.PDF
www.ricehuskash.com
Syed Kaleem Gilani Assignment # 2 Civil Engg. Material and Concrete Tech.
Table of Contents
Admixtures:............................................................................................................................................................1
Types Of Admixtures:...........................................................................................................................................1
Chemical Admixtures:.......................................................................................................................................1
 Plasticizers:..........................................................................................................................................1
 Super Plasticizers:...............................................................................................................................1
 Accelerators:........................................................................................................................................2
 Retarders:.............................................................................................................................................2
 Air Entrainers:....................................................................................................................................2
Mineral Admixtures:.........................................................................................................................................3
 Fly Ash:................................................................................................................................................3
Blast Furnace Slag:........................................................................................................................................4
RICE HUSK ASH:........................................................................................................................................4
Silica Fumes:..................................................................................................................................................5
VOLCANIC ASH:.........................................................................................................................................5
Available mineral admixtures in Pakistan:.........................................................................................................6
REFERANCES:.....................................................................................................................................................6