“15 Types of Admixtures for Concrete: Exploring Admixture and Concrete Additives for Enhanced Performance”

What Is Admixture?

Admixture is a special ingredient added during concrete mixing to enhance the properties of fresh concrete. Concrete Additives are materials other than aggregate, water, and cement added to the concrete.

Different Types of Admixtures added to the concrete mix are used to upgrade the behavior of concrete under different weather conditions.

Admixtures minimize the construction cost by altering the properties of hardened concrete, ensuring the quality of concrete during mixing, transporting, placing, and curing, and overcoming certain emergencies during concrete operations.

Read More: Grade Of Concrete – Their Ratio, Uses & Suitability

Functions of Concrete Additives or Admixtures

Followings are the main purposes for which admixtures should be added to the concrete mix,

• To increase or decrease the setting time of the fresh concrete mix.
• To make better or enhance the workability or flowability of concrete mix which is the main property of the concrete.
• To maximize the strength and durability of the concrete.
• To reduce the heat of hydration.
• To lower the segregation and bleeding which may occur during the placing of concrete.
• To reduce the permeability of concrete.
• To achieve other desirable properties.

Types of Admixtures

Concrete admixtures are classified as follows,

1. Water-reducing admixture
2. Retarding admixture
3. Accelerating admixture
4. Air entraining admixture
5. Pozzolanic admixture
6. Damp-proofing admixture
7. Gas forming admixture
8. Air detraining admixture
9. Alkali-Aggregate expansion inhibiting admixture
10. Anti-washout admixture
11. Grouting admixture
12. Corrosion inhibiting admixture
13. Bonding admixture
14. Fungicidal or germicidal admixture
15. Coloring admixture

1. Water-reducing Admixture

Water-reducing admixture, the name itself suggests that water reducers are added to a concrete mixture, mortar, or grout to increase the workability or flowability without increasing the water content.

Workability is an important property of concrete which is improved with the addition of water but if more water is added than required the strength and durability properties of concrete get affected.

These concrete admixtures in addition to improving the workability also enhance the strength of concrete, a good bond between concrete and steel. Prevents cracking, segregation, honeycombing, bleeding, etc.

Normal plasticizer reduces the water demand by up to 10%, mid-range plasticizers reduce up to 15% and superplasticizers reduce water demand by up to 30%.

Calcium, sodium, and ammonium lignosulfonates are commonly used as water-reducing admixtures.

2. Retarding Admixture

Retarding (retarders) admixtures slow down the initial rate of hydration of cement and extend the setting time of cement paste.

These types of concrete admixtures can be used where the area is susceptible to more temperature changes and where the concrete has to be transported over a long distance.

The quick setting in some conditions may lead to discontinuities in structure, the poor bond between the surfaces creates unnecessary voids in concrete, etc. Retarders are best suited to eliminate this type of problem.

Commonly used retarding admixtures are calcium sulfate or gypsum. Some other materials used as retarders are starch, cellulose products, common sugar, salts of acid, etc.

Read More: Honeycombing Of Concrete – Causes & Repair Methods

3. Accelerating Admixture

These admixtures are used to lower the initial setting time of the fresh concrete mix. They speed up the process of the initial stage of the hardening of concrete hence they are also called accelerators. These accelerators also increase the strength of concrete in its early stage by increasing the rate of hydration.

Speedy hardening of concrete is useful in many situations such as early removal of formwork, less period of curing, emergency repair works, constructions in low-temperature regions, etc.

In these concrete admixtures, the only used accelerators are silica fume, calcium chloride, finely divided silica gel, etc. Calcium chloride is cost-effective and commonly used in accelerating admixture.

4. Air Entraining Admixture

The primary function of air-entraining admixture is to increase the durability of concrete under freezing and dewatering and thawing conditions. When added to the concrete mix, these admixtures will form millions of air bubbles throughout the mix and improves the properties of the concrete.

Air entrainment in concrete will also improve the workability of concrete, prevents segregation and bleeding, lower the unit weight and elasticity of concrete improve the chemical resistance of concrete against temperature and other weathering effects, and decrease cement or sand or water content in concrete, etc.

Commonly used air-entrainment admixtures are vinyl resin, dares, tempol, cheecol etc. These admixtures are actually made of natural wood resins, alkali salts, animal and vegetable fats, oils, etc.

5. Pozzolanic Admixture

Pozzolanic admixtures are used to prepare dense concrete mix which is best suitable for water-retaining structures like dams, reservoirs, etc. They also reduce the heat of hydration and thermal shrinkage.

Best Pozzolanic material in minimal quantity gives the best results and prevents or reduces many risks such as alkali-aggregate reaction, leaching, sulfate attack, etc.

In admixtures, the naturally available pozzolanic materials are clay, shale, volcanic tuffs, pumices, etc. and artificial available pozzolanic materials are fly ash, silica fume, blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, surkhi, etc.

6. Damp-proofing Admixture

Damp-proofing or waterproofing admixtures are used to make the concrete structure impermeable against water and to prevent dampness on the concrete surface.

In addition to the waterproof property, they also act as accelerators in the early stage of concrete hardening.

Damp-proofing admixtures are available in the market in liquid form, powder form, paste form, etc. The main constituents of these admixtures are aluminum sulfate, zinc sulfate, aluminum chloride, calcium chloride, etc.

7. Gas Forming Admixture

When these admixtures are added, it reacts with hydroxide obtained by the hydration of cement and form minute bubbles of hydrogen gas in the concrete.

The range of formation of bubbles in concrete depends upon many factors such as the amount of admixture, the chemical composition of cement, temperature, fitness, etc. the formed bubbles help the concrete to counteract the settlement and bleeding problems.

Gas-forming admixtures are also used to produce lightweight concrete. For settlement and bleeding resistance purposes, a small quantity of gas-forming admixture which is generally 0.5 to 2% by weight of cement is used.

Aluminum powder, activated carbon, hydrogen peroxide, etc. are generally used as gas-forming chemical admixtures.

Read More: How Long Should Concrete Cure Before Removing Forms

8. Air Detraining Admixture

Air-detraining admixtures are used to remove the excess air from the concrete voids. Sometimes, the aggregates may release the gas into concrete, and if air-entrained is more than required then this admixture is useful.

Some of the most used air-entrained admixtures are tributyl phosphate, silicones, water-insoluble alcohols, etc.

9. Alkali Aggregate Expansion Preventing Admixture:

Alkali aggregate expansion in concrete is happened by the reaction of the alkali of cement with the silica present in the aggregates.

It forms a gel-like substance and causes volumetric expansion of concrete which may lead to cracking and disintegration.

The use of pozzolanic admixtures will prevent the alkali-aggregate reaction and in some cases, air-entraining admixtures are also useful.

Commonly used admixtures to minimize the risk of alkali-aggregate reactions are aluminum powder and lithium salts.

10. Anti-washing Admixtures

Anti-washing admixtures are used in concrete, especially for underwater concrete structures. It protects the concrete mix from being washed out under underwater pressure. It improves the cohesiveness of concrete.

This type of concrete admixture is prepared from natural or synthetic rubbers, cellulose-based thickeners, etc.

11. Grouting Admixtures

Grouting admixtures are added to grout materials to improve the grout properties according to the requirement of grout.

Sometimes, there is a need for quick-set grout and sometimes there is a need for slow-set grout to spread into deep cracks or fissures.

In these admixtures, the accelerators like calcium chloride, triethanolamine, etc. are used when the grout is to be set rapidly.

Similarly, retarders like mucic acid, gypsum, etc. are used to slow down the setting time of grout.

So, different admixtures are used as grouting admixtures based on situation and structure. Gas-producing admixtures like aluminum powder are mixed with grout material to counteract the settling of foundations.

12. Corrosion Preventing Admixture

Corrosion in steel in reinforced concrete structures is general and it is severe when the structure is exposed to saline water, industrial fumes, chlorides, etc. to prevent or to slow down the process of corrosion preventing admixtures are used.

Generally used corrosion-preventing admixtures used in reinforced concrete are sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, etc.

13. Bonding Admixtures

Bonding admixtures are used to constitute a strong bond between old and fresh concrete surfaces. In general, if fresh concrete is poured over a hardened concrete surface, there is a chance of failure of the fresh concrete surface due to weak bonds with the old surface.

To build the bond stronger, bonding admixtures are added to cement or mortar grout which is applied on the concrete surface just before placing fresh concrete. This type of admixture is used for pavement overlays, screed over roof provision, repair works, etc.

Bonding admixtures are water emulsions and they are made from natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, and polymers like vinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, etc.

14. Fungicidal or Germicidal Admixture

To prevent the growth of bacteria, germs, and fungus on hardened concrete structures, it is recommended that the mix should have fungicidal, germicidal, and insecticidal properties.

These properties can be developed by adding admixtures like polyhalogenated phenols, copper compounds, dieldrin emulsions, etc.

15. Coloring Admixtures

Coloring admixtures are the pigments (watercolor) that form color in the finished concrete. The admixtures used to produce color should not affect the strength of the concrete.

General coloring admixtures are added to cement in a ball mill, then colored cement can be obtained which can be used for making colored concrete. Some of the coloring admixtures and their resultant colors are tabulated below.

Advantages of Admixture

Admixture Benefits are given below,

1. Admixtures in concrete can accelerate the setting time.
2. Some admixtures have enzymes that work as an anti-bacterial agent.
3. Admixtures added to concrete can reduce the initial strength but increase the strength of concrete.
4. They help in lowering the heat of hydration and reduce the chances of thermal cracking in concrete.
5. It improves concrete resistance against the freeze-melting effect on concrete.
6. It cut off cement quantity requirement in concrete and which makes concrete economical.
7. Improve the practicality of concrete.
8. Admixtures provide early initial strength in concrete.

Disadvantages of Admixture

disadvantages of admixtures as given below,

1. CaCl2 high added in concrete can increase the risk of corrosion of steel – not allowed in reinforced concrete.
2. Some admixtures are more expensive and less effective.
3. It can increase drying shrinkage in concrete.
4. They provide less resistance to sulfate attacks.

Conclusion

In conclusion about concrete admixture has significantly transformed the construction industry by improving the properties and performance of concrete, with a wide range of admixtures available, including water reducing admixtures, accelerators, plasticizer and corrosion inhibitors, among others builders and engineers can tailor concrete mixtures to meet specific project requirements, admixtures offer benefits like improved workability, enhanced durability, improved strength and resistance to adverse condition.

They provide flexibility and efficiency in construction process, allowing for faster construction, better quality control and longer lasting structures, concrete admixtures has become an essential tool in modern construction, paving the way for innovation and advancements in the field.

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