7/2/2015

AdmixturesofConcrete&CementTypesofAdmixtures|Plasticizers

Plasticizers,retarders,accelerators,airentrained,mineral,chemical
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LimeasEngg.
Material
FatLime
Properties

EngineeringMaterials
Contents
Admixtures
TypesofAdmixtures
ChemicalAdmixtures
1. Plasticizers
2. SuperPlasticizers
3. Accelerators
4. SetRetarders
MineralAdmixtures
1. Cementitious
2. Pozzolanic
3. BlastFurnaceSlag
4. Flyash
5. SilicaFume
6. RiceHusk
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Amaterialotherthanwater,aggregates,orcementthatisusedasaningredientofconcreteormortarto
controlsettingandearlyhardening,workability,ortoprovideadditionalcementingproperties.
Whyisadmixtureused?

Lime
Manufacturing

Overdecades,attemptshavebeenmadetoobtainconcretewithcertaindesiredcharacteristicssuchashigh
compressivestrength,highworkability,andhighperformanceanddurabilityparameterstomeetthe
requirementofcomplexityofmodernstructures.

HydraulicLime
Uses

Thepropertiescommonlymodifiedaretheheatofhydration,accelerateorretardsettingtime,workability,
waterreduction,dispersionandairentrainment,impermeabilityanddurabilityfactors.

Typesof
cement
Concrete
Admixtures
CementsUses
&Specs
Paints&Varnishes
Qualitiesof
Paints

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Admixtures

Cement

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Compositionof
paints
Varnishes&
Distemper

TypesofAdmixtures
ChemicaladmixturesAccelerators,Retarders,Waterreducingagents,Superplasticizers,Airentraining
agentsetc.
MineraladmixturesFlyashBlastfurnaceslag,SilicafumeandRicehuskAshetc

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Chemicaladmixtures
1.Waterreducingadmixture/Plasticizers:
Theseadmixturesareusedforfollowingpurposes:

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RelatedPages

Stoneas
Engg.Material
StoneMortars

TypesofMineral

1. Toachieveahigherstrengthbydecreasingthewatercement
ratioatthesameworkabilityasanadmixturefreemix.

Classificationof
stones

admixturesinConcrete

2. Toachievethesameworkabilitybydecreasingthecement
contentsoastoreducetheheatofhydrationinmass
concrete.

Stone
Construction
OtherSubjects

Whyareadmixturesused
Disadvantagesofreinforced

3. Toincreasetheworkabilitysoastoeaseplacinginaccessible
locations

Hydraulic
Structures

concrete

4. Waterreductionmorethan5%butlessthan12%

TechnicalWriting

admixtures Typesof

5. ThecommonlyusedadmixturesareLignosulphonatesand
hydrocarbolicacidsalts.

Engineering
Metals

Concrete Hardening

6. Plasticizersareusuallybasedonlignosulphonate,whichisa
naturalpolymer,derivedfromwoodprocessinginthepaper
industry.

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Answersabout

Accelerators

BlastFurnaceSlag

FlyAsh

Actionsinvolved:
1. Dispersion:
Surfaceactive agents alter the physic chemical forces at the interface. They are adsorbed on the cement
particles,givingthemanegativechargewhich leads to repulsion between the particles. Electrostatic forces
aredevelopedcausingdisintegrationandthefreewaterbecomeavailableforworkability.
2. Lubrication:
Asthese agents are organic by nature, thus they lubricate the mix reducing the friction and increasing the
workability.
3. Retardation:
Athin layer is formed over the cement particles protecting them from hydration and increasing the setting
time.Mostnormalplasticizersgivesomeretardation,3090minutes
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2.SuperPlasticizers:
These are more recent and more effective type of water reducing
admixtures also known as high range water reducer. The main
benefitsofsuperplasticizerscanbesummarizedasfollows:
Increasedfluidity:
Flowing
Selfleveling
Selfcompactingconcrete
Penetrationandcompactionrounddensereinforcement
ReducedW/Cratio:
Veryhighearlystrength,>200%at24hoursorearlier
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Veryhighlateragestrengths,>100MPaor15000psi.
Reducedshrinkage,especiallyifcombinedwithreducedcementcontent.
Improveddurabilitybyremovingwatertoreducepermeabilityanddiffusion.
ThecommonlyusedSuperPlasticizersareasfollows:
Sulphonatedmelamineformaldehydecondensates(SMF)
Give1625%+ water reduction. SMF gives little or no retardation, which makes them very effective at low
temperaturesorwhereearlystrengthismostcritical.However,athighertemperatures,theyloseworkability
relatively quickly. SMF generally give a good finish and are colorless, giving no staining in white concrete.
Theyarethereforeoftenusedwhereappearanceisimportant.
Sulphonatednaphthaleneformaldehydecondensates(SNF)
Typically give 1625%+ water reduction. They tend to increase the entrapment of larger, unstable air
bubbles. This can improve cohesion but may lead to more surface defects. Retardation is more than with
SMFbutwillstillnotnormallyexceed90minutes.SNFisaverycosteffective.
Polycarboxylateethersuperplasticizers(PCE)
Typicallygive 2035%+ water reduction. They are relatively expensive per liter but are very powerful so a
lowerdose(ormoredilutesolution)isnormallyused.
In general the dosage levels are usually higher than with conventional water reducers, and the possible
undesirablesideeffectsarereducedbecausetheydonotmarkedlylowerthesurfacetensionofthewater.

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3.Accelerators:
Anadmixture which, when added to concrete, mortar, or grout, increases the rate of hydration of hydraulic
cement,shortensthetimeofsetinconcrete,orincreasestherateofhardeningorstrengthdevelopment.
Acceleratingadmixturescanbedividedintogroupsbasedontheirperformanceandapplication:
1. SetAcceleratingAdmixtures,
Reducethetimeforthemixtochangefromtheplastictothehardenedstate.Setacceleratorshaverelatively
limiteduse,mainlytoproduceanearlyset.
2. HardeningAccelerators,
Whichincreasethestrengthat24hoursbyatleast120%at20Candat5Cbyatleast130%at48hours.
Hardening accelerators find use where early stripping of shuttering or very early access to pavements is
required.Theyareoftenusedincombinationwithahighrangewaterreducer,especiallyincoldconditions.
Calciumchlorideisthemosteffectiveacceleratorandgivesbothsetandhardeningcharacteristics.However,
islimitedduetoaccelerationofcorrosionofsteelreinforcementanddecreaseresistanceofcementpaste
in a sulfate environment. For this reason, it should not be used in concrete where any steel will be
embeddedbutmaybeusedinplainunreinforcedconcrete.Chloridefreeacceleratorsaretypicallybasedon
salts of nitrate,nitrite, formate and thiocyanate. Hardening accelerators are often based on high range
waterreducers,sometimesblendedwithoneofthesesalts.Acceleratingadmixtureshavearelativelylimited
effect and are usually only cost effective in specific cases where very early strength is needed for, say,
accessreasons.Theyfindmostuseatlowtemperatureswhereconcretestrengthgainmaybeveryslowso
thattherelativebenefitoftheadmixturebecomesmoreapparent.
Insummary,ahardeningacceleratormaybeappropriateforstrengthgainupto24hoursatlowtemperature
andupto12hoursatambienttemperatures.Beyondthesetimes,ahighrangewaterreduceralonewill
usuallybemorecosteffective.

4.SetRetarders:
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Thefunctionofretarderistodelayorextendthesettingtimeofcementpasteinconcrete.Thesearehelpful
for concrete that has to be transported to long distance, and helpful in placing the concrete at high
temperatures.
When water is first added to cement there is a rapid initial hydration reaction, after which there is little
formationoffurtherhydratesfortypically23hours.Theexacttimedependsmainlyonthecementtypeand
thetemperature.Thisiscalledthedormantperiod when the concrete is plastic and can be placed. At the
end of the dormant period, the hydration rate increases and a lot of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium
hydroxide is formed relatively quickly. This corresponds to the setting time of the concrete. Retarding
admixturesdelaytheendofthedormantperiodandthestartofsettingandhardening.Thisisusefulwhen
used with plasticizers to give workability retention. Used on their own, retarders allow later vibration of the
concrete to prevent the formation of cold joints between layers of concrete placed with a significant delay
betweenthem.
The mechanism of set retards is based on absorption. The large admixture anions and molecules are
absorbedonthesurfaceofcementparticles,whichhindersfurtherreactionsbetweencementandwateri.e.
retards setting. The commonly known retards are Calcium Lignosulphonates and Carbohydrates
derivativesusedinfractionofpercentbyweightofcement.

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5.AirEntrainedAdmixtures:
Anaddition for hydraulic cement or an admixture for concrete or mortar which causes air, usually in small
quantity,tobeincorporatedintheformofminutebubblesintheconcreteormortarduringmixing,usuallyto
increase its workability and frost resistance. Airentraining admixtures are surfactants that change the
surfacetensionofthewater.Traditionally,theywerebasedonfattyacidsaltsorvinsolresinbutthesehave
largely been replaced by synthetic surfactants or blends of surfactants to give improved stability and void
characteristicstotheentrainedair.Airentrainmentisusedtoproduceanumberofeffectsinboththeplastic
andthehardenedconcrete.Theseinclude:
Resistancetofreezethawactioninthehardenedconcrete.
Increasedcohesion,reducingthetendencytobleedandsegregationintheplasticconcrete.
Compactionoflowworkabilitymixesincludingsemidryconcrete.
Stabilityofextrudedconcrete.
Cohesionandhandlingpropertiesinbeddingmortars.

MineralAdmixturesinConcrete
TypesofMineralAdmixtures
1. Cementitious
Thesehavecementingpropertiesthemselves.Forexample:
Groundgranulatedblastfurnaceslag(GGBFS)
2. Pozzolanic
A pozzolan is a material which, when combined with calcium hydroxide (lime), exhibits cementitious
properties. Pozzolans are commonly used as an addition (the technical term is "cement extender") to
Portland cement concrete mixtures to increase the longterm strength and other material properties of
Portlandcementconcreteandinsomecasesreducethematerialcostofconcrete.Examplesare:
Flyash
SilicaFume
RiceHuskAsh
Metakaolin

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PozzolanicAction:
Theadditiveactinthreeways
1. Filler
2. Nucleating
3. Pozzolanic
1.Filler:
Theseadditives/admixturesarefinerthancement,sowhenaddedtoconcretetheyoccupythesmallpores
previouslyleftvacant.
2.Nucleating:
Thesefineparticlesacceleratetherateofhydrationandprecipitationstarts.
3.Pozzolanic:
Whencementingmaterialreactswithwaterthefollowingreactiontakeplace:
C2S+HCSH+CH
C3S+HCSH+CH
CSHisresponsibleforstrengthwhileCHisasolublematerialreactsanddissolvesinwaterleavingbehind
pores.Sowhenadmixtureisadded
SiO3orAl2O3+CHCSH
Thus,itreducestheamountofCH&increaseCSH
ConditionstoDeclareaMaterialPozzolan:
Havingsilica+Aluminaoxide+ferrousoxidemorethan70%.
Surfaceareaonnormaladmixtureismorethan300m/kg.
Surfaceareashouldbemorethancementused.

3.GroundGranulatedBlastFurnaceSlag(GGBFS)
Groundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagisthegranularmaterialformedwhenmoltenironblastfurnaceslag(a
byproduct of iron and steel making) is rapidly chilled (quenched) by immersion in water. It is a granular
product,highlycementitiousinnatureand,groundtocementfineness,hydrateslikePortlandcement.
(BlastFurnace Slag: A byproduct of steel manufacture which is sometimes used as a substitute for
Portlandcement.Insteelindustrywhenironoreismolted,theninthemoltedstatealltheimpuritiescomeat
itssurfacewhichareremovedcalledslag.Itconsistsmainlyofthesilicatesandaluminosilicatesofcalcium,
whichareformedintheblastfurnaceinmoltenformsimultaneouslywiththemetalliciron.Blastfurnaceslag
is blended with Portland cement clinker to form PORTLAND BLASTFURNACE SLAG CEMENT). GGBFS is
used to make durable concrete structures in combination with ordinary Portland cement and/or other
pozzolanicmaterials.GGBFShasbeenwidelyusedinEurope,andincreasinglyintheUnitedStatesandin
Asia (particularly in Japan and Singapore) for its superiority in concrete durability, extending the lifespan of
buildingsfromfiftyyearstoahundredyears.
ConcretemadewithGGBFScementsetsmoreslowlythanconcretemadewithordinaryPortlandcement,
dependingontheamountofGGBFSinthecementitiousmaterial,butalsocontinuestogainstrengthovera
longerperiodinproductionconditions.Thisresultsinlowerheatofhydrationandlowertemperaturerises,
and makes avoiding cold joints easier, but may also affect construction schedules where quick setting is
required.
Use of GGBFS significantly reduces the risk of damages caused by alkalisilica reaction (ASR), provides
higher resistance to chloride ingress, reducing the risk of reinforcement corrosion, and provides higher
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resistancetoattacksbysulfateandotherchemicals.

Benefits:
1. Durability
1. GGBFScementisroutinelyspecifiedinconcretetoprovideprotectionagainstbothsulphate
attackandchlorideattack
2. GGBFSisalsoroutinelyusedtolimitthetemperatureriseinlargeconcretepours.Themore
gradualhydrationofGGBFScementgeneratesbothlowerpeakandlesstotaloverallheatthan
Portlandcement.
2. Appearance
1. IncontrasttothestonygreyofconcretemadewithPortlandcement,thenearwhitecolorof
GGBFScementpermitsarchitectstoachievealightercolourforexposedfairfacedconcrete
finishes,atnoextracost.
3. Strength
1. ConcretecontainingGGBFScementhasahigherultimatestrengththanconcretemadewith
Portlandcement.Ithasahigherproportionofthestrengthenhancingcalciumsilicatehydrates
(CSH)thanconcretemadewithPortlandcementonly,andareducedcontentoffreelime,which
doesnotcontributetoconcretestrength.ConcretemadewithGGBFScontinuestogainstrength
overtime,andhasbeenshowntodoubleits28daystrengthoverperiodsof10to12years.

4.FlyAsh:
Thefinelydividedresidueresultingfromthecombustionofgroundorpowderedcoal.Flyashisgenerally
capturedfromthechimneysofcoalfiredpowerplantsithasPOZZOLANICproperties,andissometimes
blendedwithcementforthisreason.
Flyashincludessubstantialamountsofsilicondioxide(SiO2)(bothamorphousandcrystalline)andcalcium
oxide(CaO).Toxicconstituentsincludearsenic,beryllium,boron,cadmium,chromium,cobalt,lead,
manganese,mercury,molybdenum,selenium,strontium,thallium,andvanadium.

ClassFFlyAsh:
Theburningofharder,olderanthraciteandbituminouscoaltypicallyproducesClassFflyash.Thisflyashis
pozzolanicinnature,andcontainslessthan10%lime(CaO).TheglassysilicaandaluminaofClassFflyash
requiresacementingagent,suchasPortlandcement,quicklime,orhydratedlime,withthepresenceofwater
inordertoreactandproducecementitiouscompounds.

ClassCFlyAsh:
Flyashproducedfromtheburningofyoungerligniteorsubbituminouscoal,inadditiontohavingpozzolanic
properties,alsohassomeselfcementingproperties.Inthepresenceofwater,ClassCflyashwillhardenand
gainstrengthovertime.ClassCflyashgenerallycontainsmorethan20%lime(CaO).UnlikeClassF,self
cementingClassCflyashdoesnotrequireanactivator.Alkaliandsulfate(SO4)contentsaregenerally
higherinClassCflyashes.
Inadditiontoeconomicandecologicalbenefits,theuseofflyashinconcreteimprovesitsworkability,
reducessegregation,bleeding,heatevolutionandpermeability,inhibitsalkaliaggregatereaction,and
enhancessulfateresistance.Eventhoughtheuseofflyashinconcretehasincreasedinthelast20years,
lessthan20%oftheflyashcollectedwasusedinthecementandconcreteindustries.
OneofthemostimportantfieldsofapplicationforflyashisPCCpavement,wherealargequantityof
concreteisusedandeconomyisanimportantfactorinconcretepavementconstruction.

5.SilicaFume

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Byproductofsemiconductorindustry
Thetermscondensedsilicafume,microsilica,silicafumeandvolatilizedsilicaareoftenusedtodescribethe
byproductsextractedfromtheexhaustgasesofsilicon,ferrosiliconandothermetalalloyfurnaces.However,
thetermsmicrosilicaandsilicafumeareusedtodescribethosecondensedsilicafumesthatareofhigh
quality,foruseinthecementandconcreteindustry.
SilicafumewasfirstobtainedinNorway,in1947,whenenvironmentalrestraintsmadethefilteringofthe
exhaustgasesfromthefurnacescompulsory.
SilicaFumeconsistsofveryfineparticleswithasurfacearearangingfrom60,000to150,000ft/lbor13,000
to30,000m/kg,withparticlesapproximately100timessmallerthantheaveragecementparticle.Becauseof
itsextremefinenessandhighsilicacontent,SilicaFumeisahighlyeffectivepozzolanicmaterial.SilicaFume
isusedinconcretetoimproveitsproperties.IthasbeenfoundthatSilicaFumeimprovescompressive
strength,bondstrength,andabrasionresistancereducespermeabilityofconcretetochlorideionsand
thereforehelpsinprotectingreinforcingsteelfromcorrosion,especiallyinchloriderichenvironmentssuchas
coastalregions.

6.RiceHuskAsh:
Thisisabiowastefromthehuskleftfromthegrainsofrice.Itisusedasapozzolanicmaterialincementto
increasedurabilityandstrength.
Thesilicaisabsorbedfromthegroundandgatheredinthehuskwhereitmakesastructureandisfilledwith
cellulose.Whencelluloseisburned,onlysilicaisleftwhichisgrindedtofinepowderwhichisusedas
pozzolana.
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