Admixtures

Lecture - 1
 Admixtures
• The term admixture as “a material other than
water, aggregates, hydraulic cement used as
an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to
modify its freshly mixed, setting, or
hardened properties and that is added to the
batch before or during its mixing.”
• Producers use admixtures primarily to
• Reduce the cost of concrete construction;
• To modify the properties of hardened
concrete;
• To ensure the quality of concrete during
mixing, transporting, placing, and curing;
and
• To overcome certain emergencies during
concrete operations.
 Brief History……
• The use of natural admixtures in concrete was a logical progression.
• Materials used as admixtures included milk and lard by the Romans; eggs during the
middle ages in Europe; polished glutinous rice paste, lacquer, tung oil, blackstrap
molasses,
• Extracts from elm soaked in water and boiled bananas by the Chinese; and in
Mesoamerica and Peru, cactus juice and latex from rubber plants.
• The Mayans also used bark extracts and other substances as set retarders to keep
stucco workable for a long period of time
• Until about 1930 additives and admixtures though used, were not considered an
important part of concrete technology. Since then, there has been an increase in the use
of admixtures.
• Since early 1980’s, some internationally renowned companies collaborated with
Indian companies and have started manufacturing chemical admixtures in India.
As a part of marketing they started educating consultants, architects, structural
engineers and builders about the benefits of using admixtures
 Chemical Admixtures
• As per the report of the ACI Committee 212, admixtures have been classified into 15
groups according to type of materials constituting the admixtures, or characteristic
affect of the use.

Name of the
Material Desired Effect
Admixture

Lignosulfonates, Hydroxylated Reduce water content at least

Plasticizer
carboxylic acids Carbohydrates 5%

Sulfonated melamine formaldehyde

Increase flowability with
condensates Sulfonated naphthalene
Superplasticizer retarded set Reduce water-
formaldehyde condensates,
cement ratio (15-25 %)
Lignosulfonates, Polycarboxilates

Gypsum, Lignln , Borax Sugars

Retarder Retard setting time
Tartaric acid and salts
 Chemical Admixtures
Name of the
Material Desired Effect
Admixture
Calcium Chloride,
Accelerates setting and Early Strength
Accelerator Triethanolamine, Sodium
development
Thiosyanate, Calcium Formate
Salts of wood resins (Vinsol Improve durability in freeze- thaw.
Air-
resin). some synthetic deicers. sulfate, and alkali· reactive
Entraining
detergents, salts of sulfonated environments
Admixtures
lignin, salts of petroleum acids Improve workability
Pozzolonic
Admixtures
Damp/Water Soaps of calcium or ammonium
Retard moisture penetration into dry
proofing stearate or oleate Butyl stearate
concrete
Admixtures Petroleum products
 Chemical Admixtures
Name of the
Material Desired Effect
Admixture
Gas forming Cause expansion before
Aluminum powder
Admixtures setting
Air-Detraining Tributyl phosphate, Dibutyl Phthalate,
Decrease Air Content
Admixtures Octyl alcohol.
Alkali-aggregate
Barium salts, lithium nitrate. Reduce alkali aggrogate
Expansion Inhibiting
lithium carbonate. lithium hydroxide reactivity expansion
Admixtures
Same as in the Case of Accelerator, Adjust grout properties for
Grouting Admixtures
Retarder, Plasticiser, Superplasticisers specific applications
Calcium nitrite, sodium nitrite.,
Reduce steel corrosion
Corrosion-inhibiting sodium benzoate . certain phosphates
activity in a chloride-laden
Admixtures or fluo-silicates. Fluo-aluminates,
environment
ester-amines
 Chemical Admixtures
Name of the Admixture Material Desired Effect

Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl

Increase bond strength
Bonding Admixtures acetate. Acrylics, butadiene-
styrene copolymers

Modified carbon black. iron

oxide. Phthalo cyanine. umber,
Colouring Admixtures Colored concrete
chromium oxide. titanium
oxide, cobalt blue

Polyhalogenated phenols,
Fungicidal, Germicidal, Inhibit or control bacterial
Dieldrin emulsions, Copper
Insecticidal Admixtures and f fungal growth
compounds
 Accelerator
• These admixtures when added to concrete, mortar or grout increases the rate of hydration
of hydraulic cement, shortens the time of set, accelerates the hardening or
development of strength of concrete/ mortar.
• Some of the accelerators producThese admixtures function by interaction with C3S (Tri-
calcium silicate) component of the cement thus increasing the reaction between cement and
water.
• Accelerator used these days are so powerful that it is possible to make the cement set into
stone hard in a matter of five minutes are less.
Effect of use of Accelerating Admixtures
Reduction in Compressive Strength (Kg/cm2)
W/C Slump
Water Content
Ratio in mm 1 Day 3 Days 7 Days 28 days
(%)
Normal
Nil 0.6 55 30.25 88.5 163.45 253
Concrete
Concrete with
15.0 0.51 60 51.0 135.0 216.0 304
CEMWET-ACC
 Accelerator - Types
Many substances are Known to Act as accelerators for Concrete. They Include -

• Hydroxides, Silicates,
• Fluoro Silicates,
• Organic Compounds,
• Calcium Formates,
• Calcium Nitrates,
• Calcium Thio Sulphate,
• Aluminium Chlorides,
• Sodium Chlorides
• Potassium Carbonates,
• Calcium Chlorides.
 Accelerator - Advantages
• Shortens the setting time of cement and therefore increases the rate of gain of 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.
• Reduces water requirements, bleeding, shrinkage and time required for initial set.

Accelerator – Use
• With the availability of Accelerators under water concreting has become easy.
• he repair work that would be carried out to the waterfront structures in the region of tidal
variations has become easy.
• use of such powerful accelerators have facilitated, the basement waterproofing operations
• these materials could be used up to 10°C, they find an unquestionable use in cold weather
concreting