2.

8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
 Demonstration
• 500 g Cement
• 150 ml Water
• 5 ml Superplasticiser
Fosroc Literature
 Primary admixture properties
PLASTICISERS
• Dispersion of cement particles increases fluidity
• Water reduction increases strength
• Water reduction reduces permeability, increases durability
• Cement reduction reduces cost
AIR ENTRAINERS
• Increase cohesion, Reduce bleed and segregation
• Easier to pump
• Impart freeze thaw resistance
RETARDERS
• Prolong period over which concrete may be placed
• Reduce problems with cold joints
ACCELERATORS
• Reduce the time to reach initial set
• Increase the early age strength of the concrete
 2.8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
Effects of water reducers

Cement 250kg
Increasing strength
Plasticiser and superplasticiser
 Examples of
superplasticiser
use
 Reducing
temperature
rise with sp
Methods
of
addition
(lack of) effect on strength
Effect of water reducer on heat
evolution
Effect of plasticiser on rheology
Slump vs flow table
 Self
compacting
concrete
 Self
Compacting
Concrete
Self Compacting Concrete
 2.8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
Air entrainers
Effect of pozzolans on air entraining
Effect of fine aggregate on air
These cracks in “dolos” sea defence
unit prevented with air entrained
concrete
 2.8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
Workability loss
Retarders
 The retarder therefore helps to:-
• Hold the workability of initially high workability
superplasticised concrete at a medium workability by
delaying the onset of hydration.
• Assist with the removal of the casing after introduction of
concrete into deep piles by holding some workability in the
mix.
• Give monolithic concrete between batches placed with a
time interval between them.
• Reduce the incidence and intensity of surface lift marks,
surface blemishes and colour changes due to poor
intermixing between pours.
• Reduce the incidence of cold joints between pours.
 2.8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
Accelerator
Superplasticiser for strength gain
 2.8 ADMIXTURES FOR
CONCRETE
• 2.8.1 Introduction
• 2.8.2 Plasticisers and superplasticisers
• 2.8.3 Air entrainment
• 2.8.4 Retarders
• 2.8.5 Accelerators
• 2.8.6 Other admixtures
 Other Admixtures
• Viscosity modifiers for use with superplasticisers
when making self compacting concrete
• Foaming agents "Foamed concrete" is a non-
structural void filler which can be dug out with
excavators.
• Shrinkage compensators.
• Corrosion Inhibitors. Calcium Nitrite is used as
an anode inhibitor. Other admixtures can inhibit
the cathode.
• Alkali Aggregate Reaction Inhibitors. Lithium
based compounds are used to reduce AAR.
Corrosion Inhibitors
 Other Admixtures
• Viscosity modifiers for use with superplasticisers
when making self compacting concrete
• Foaming agents
• "Foamed concrete" is a non-structural void filler
which can be dug out with excavators.
• Shrinkage compensators.
• Corrosion Inhibitors. Calcium Nitrite is used as
an anode inhibitor. Other admixtures can inhibit
the cathode.
• Alkali Aggregate Reaction Inhibitors. Lithium
based compounds are used to reduce AAR.
 When using more than one
admixture
• Never pre-mix admixtures before adding
them to the concrete
• The order and timing of admixture addition
can be critical