ADMIXTURE

I. Definition of Admixtures
Admixtures are materials besides water, cement, and aggregates, added to the
concrete or mortar, before or during mixing.
II. The function of admixtures are :
a. Increase the workability of concrete.
b. To set a factor cement ratio.
c. Prevent the segregation and bleeding.
d. To set a setting time.
e. Increase the compressive strength of concrete.
f. Increase the concretes resistance from chemical substance.
Segregation : Separation of fine and coarse aggregate.
Bleeding
: Separation of water from fresh mortar.
III. Classification of Admixture
1. Chemical Admixtures
2. Mineral Admixtures (Additive)
The construction industry classify liquid materials as admixtures and solid materials
as additives.
1. Chemical Admixtures
Chemical admixture is a material that added to the concrete or mortar, to
modify the properties of mortar in the fresh/ hardened state. Chemical
admixture can be added when mixing or foundry.
According to ASTM C.494, admixtures are divides into 7 :
A. Type A: Water Reducing Admixture
B. Type B: Retarding Admixture
C. Type C: Accelerating Admixture
D. Type D: Water Reducing and Retarding Admixture
E. Type E: Water Reducing and Accelerating Admixture
F. Type F: Water Reducing High Range Admixture
G. Type G: Water Reducing High Range Retarding Admixture
A. Type A : Water Reducing Admixtures
The function of Water Reducing Admixtures :
a. To achieve a higher strength by decreasing the water content at the same
workability.
b. To achieve the same workability by decreasing the cement content so as to
reduce the heat of hydration in mass concrete.
The materials are kinds of Water Reducing Admixtures:
a. lignosulfonic acid derivatives
b. hydroxycarboxylic acids or hydroxylated polymers
B. Type B : Retarding Admixtures
The function of Retarding Admixtures :
a. Retard hydration of cement.
b. To retard or extend the setting time of cement paste in concrete.
c. These are helpful for concrete that has to be transported to long distance,
and helpful in placing the concrete at high temperatures.
The materials are kinds of Retarding Admixtures :

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Unrefined lignosulfonates containing sugars

Hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts (i.e. sugars)
Carbohydrates including sugars
Gelatin (Sodium Heptonates - animal or fish fats)
Hydroxylated polymers

C. Type C : Accelerating Admixtures

The function of Accelerating Admixtures :
a. To accelerate the setting time and increase the rate of hardening and
strength of concrete.
b. Increase in the rate of hydration of the hydraulic cement.
c. These are used in cold weather conditions (below 5C or 41F).
d. Reduced bleeding.
The materials are kinds of Accelerating Admixtures :
a. calcium chloride
b. triethanolamine
c. silicates
d. fluorides
e. alkali hydroxide
f. nitrites
g. nitrates
h. formats
D. Type D : Water Reducing and Retarding Admixtures
The function of Water Reducing and Retarding Admixtures :
a. To achieve a higher strength by decreasing the water content at the same
workability.
b. To achieve the same workability by decreasing the cement content so as to
reduce the heat of hydration in mass concrete.
c. To retard an initial setting time and hardening concrete.
d. Retard hydration of cement.
e. These are helpful for concrete that has to be transported to long distance,
and helpful in placing the concrete at high temperatures.
The materials are kinds of Water Reducing and Retarding Admixtures :
a. Long chain carboxylic acids
b. Calcium, ammonium and butyl stearates
c. Acrylic resins
E. Type E : Water Reducing and Accelerating Admixtures
The function of Water Reducing and Accelerating Admixtures :
a. To reduce the water content.
b. To accelerate an initial setting time and hardening concrete.
c. To produce the concrete with fast setting time, low water cement ratio, but
still workable.
d. To increase the compressive strength of the concrete.
Water Reducing and Accelerating Admixtures is manufactured by combining Water
Reducing Admixtures and Accelerating Admixtures
F. Type F : Water Reducing High Range Admixtures
The Function of Water Reducing High Range Admixtures :

a.
b.
c.
d.

Reduce the water content more than 12%

Increase the workability.
To produce the concrete with low water cement ratio, but still workable.
Increase the compressive strength
Superplasticizer is kind of Water Reducing High Range Admixtures.
The materials are kind of superplasticizer :
a. Melamine formaldehyde condensates
b. Naphthalene Formaldehyde
c. Modified lignosulfonate
d. Synthetic polymers
G. Type G : Water Reducing High Range Retarding Admixtures
The function of Water Reducing High Range Retarding Admixtures :
a. To reduce the water content more than 12%
b. To retard the setting time and hardening concrete.
c. Retard hydration of cement.
d. These are helpful for concrete that has to be transported to long distance,
and helpful in placing the concrete at high temperatures.
Water Reducing High Range Retarding Admixtures is manufactured by
combining superplasticizers and Retarding Admixtures.
2. Mineral Admixtures (Additive)
Additive is a material that may be added to mortar, to improve or achieve
special properties. Additive can be added when mixing.
The Function of Additive :
a. Increase the workability of concrete.
b. Increase the resistance of sulfate and alkali-silica reaction.
c. Increase durability of concrete.
d. Increase compressive strength.
e. Decrease the hydration heat.
f. Decrease shrinkage of concrete.
1

Fly Ash
Fly ash is an artificial pozzolan which has excellent cementitious properties and also
consists of finely divided particles.
The particles of fly ash are mostly spherical and the particle size is very small which
ranges between 1 to 100 m. The fineness is also good enough for it to reduce the heat of
hydration and also in replacing cement particles.

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag

This particular slag is a nonmetallic product containing silicates and aluminates of
calcium and other bases. The molten slag is rapidly chilled in water to form granulated material
which is used in concrete.
There are three categories of blast furnace slag and they are divided on the basis of their
activity index:
Grade 80- Low activity-index
Grade 100- Medium activity index
Grade 120- High activity index

Activity index is the ratio of compressive strength of slag- Portland cement to that of ordinary
Portland cement.
3

Silica Fume
Silica fume is formed by the reduction of quartz at high temperatures to form SiO vapors
which oxidize and condense to form spherical particles. These particles are very finely divided
and the fineness has a very high value. It is an artificial pozzolan admixture. The particle size is
less than 1 m and the fineness is about 2000 sq.m/kg. The pozzolanic reaction of silica fume is
higher than the other pozzolans because of its fineness.