Protect Against Freeze Thaw Cycles Improve Durability

Air entrainment is particularly effective in providing resistance to freeze-thaw cycles.

When the moisture in concrete freezes, these air cells relieve internal pressure by
providing microscopic chambers for the expansion of water as it freezes.

Some air entraining mixtures contain a catalyst for more rapid and complete
hydration of portland cement.

To protect concrete from damage during freezing, bubbles must have the proper
size, distribution and volume. ASTM C 260 specifies requirements for air entraining
admixtures.
 Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas, TX

Benefits of air-entrainment include:

 Improved resistance of concrete to severe frost action or freeze/thaw cycles

 High resistance to cycles of wetting and drying

 High degree of workability

 High degree of durability

Dosage: Typical air entrainment ranges from 5% to 8% of the volume of concrete.

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-to-finish 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. You can also read frequently asked
questions about superplastisizers on the Fritz-Pak website.

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.
 Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas,

TX  Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas, TX

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.

Fly Ash - Making Concrete Stronger, More Durable, and Easier to Work With

Derived from burning coal, fly ash is a valuable additive that makes concrete
stronger, more durable and easier to work with.
Fly ash aids the formation of cementitious compounds to enhance the strength,
impermeability and durability of concrete.

Two main classes of fly ash are used in concrete, Class F, and Class C.

Class F

Reduces bleeding and segregation in plastic concrete. In hardened concrete,

increases ultimate strength, reduces drying shrinkage and permeability, lowers heat
of hydration and reduces creep.

Class C

Provides unique self-hardening characteristics and improves permeability. Especially

useful in pre-stressed concrete and other applications where high early strengths are
required. Also useful in soil stabilization.

Silica Fume: Early Strength and Reduced Permeability

Silica fume can make a significant contribution to early-age strength of concrete.

One pound of silica fume produces about the same amount of heat as a pound of
portland cement, and yields about three to five times as much compressive strength.

Silica fume improves concrete in two ways the basic pozzolanic reaction, and a
microfiller effect. Addition of silica fume improves bonding within the concrete and
helps reduce permeability, it also combines with the calcium hydroxide produced in
the hydration of portland cement to improve concrete durability.

As a microfiller, the extreme fineness of the silica fume allows it to fill the microscopic
voids between cement particles.This greatly reduces permeability and improves the
paste-to-aggregate bond of the resulting concrete compared to conventional
concrete.

For further information on microsilica and its benefits visit:

Dosage:

8% to 15% by weight of cement but as an addition not replacement

8% to 10% High durability / Low permeability such as bridge decks or parking structures

10% to
High strength structural columns
15%

10% max Flatwork

The amount required is related to silica fume dosage and the water-cementitious
materials ratio. Silica fume is cementitious, but typically is added to and not replacing
the existing portland cement.

Tip: The higher percentage of silica fume used, the higher the amount of super
plasticizer needed - but mix can become "sticky". Consider replacing about 1/3 of the
super plasticizer with a mid-range water reducer to improve workability

Uses:

 Reduces concrete permeability

 Increases concrete strength

 Improves resistance to corrosion

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.

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.

Set Acceleration

Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas, TX

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.

Set Retardation
 Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas, TX

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

 Stamping concrete in warm weather

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

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.
 Fritz-Pak Corporation in Dallas, TX

Finishing Enhancers

Mid-range water-reducing admixtures can be used as finishing enhancers for

concrete -particularly in commercial and residential flatwork and formed concrete
applications.

MRWRs produce less permeable, more durable concrete and concrete with
significantly early and ultimate compressive strengths.

Cold Weather Concreting Note

A drop of 20o F can double the time it takes concrete to set. ASTM C494 Type C
accelerators or a Type F combination of accelerators and water reducers may be the
solution.

Hot Weather Concreting Note

As a general rule, each 10o F increase in ambient temperature reduces slump about
1". A 30o F increase in mix temperature can cut setting time in half, increase water
requirements, and reduce the 28-day compressive strength as much as 25%.

A switch from ASTM C494 Type A to Type D water reducing and set retarding mix
may be part of an effective plan for hot-weather concreting.

Produce a Fluid Backfill Which Flows Easily and is Self Leveling

Controlled low strength material (CLSM)

This material provides a fluid backfill which flows easily and is self-leveling.

While it costs more than a dry granular material, it does not need to be placed in lifts,
spread, and compacted after each lift.

It is a fluid mixture made of portland cement, water, fine aggregate and/or fly ash and
can include an admixture to improve flowability, lower densities, eliminate
segregation and settlement, and control strength development in applications where
future excavation is required.

Typical 28-day compressive strengths are 50 to 200 psi and densities range from
115 to 145 pcf.