2.3 Chemical admixtures

Chemical Admixtures
What is a chemical
 admixture?
Any chemical additive to the concrete
mixture that enhances the properties of
concrete in the fresh or hardened state
 Does not typically include paints and
protective coatings (for steel or concrete)
 ACI defines the term admixture as "a
material other than water, aggregates,
hydraulic cement, and fiber reinforcement,
used as an ingredient of concrete or mortar,
and added to the batch immediately before
or during its mixing.“
Classification
 Water reducers
 Set-controlling chemicals
 Air entrainers
 Specialty admixtures
- Viscosity modifiers
- Corrosion inhibitors
- Shrinkage reducing admixtures
1. Water Reducers
• Normal (plasticizers)
• High-range (Super plasticizers)
Broad classification
W ater R ed u cers
N orm al M id -ran g e H ig h ran g e

5 - 8 % water red u ction 8 - 1 5 % water red u ction 1 5 - 2 5 % water red u ction
Water reduction
 For a given workability, the water demand is
reduced, thus resulting in higher strength and
durability.
 For a given w/c and strength, workability can be
increased.
 For a given w/c, strength and workability, the
quantity of cement can be reduced
The chemistry
 Water reducers belong to the ‘dispersants’ family (like
the detergents and soaps used for washing)
 Dispersants are long-chain organic molecules have
polar (hydrophilic) and non-polar (hydrophobic)
groups; these get adsorbed on the cement particles
 Cement particles are dispersed by electrostatic
repulsion
 Upon hydration, electrostatic charge diminishes and
flocculation occurs
Normal water reducers
 The dosage of normal WRs is 0.3 – 0.5 % by
weight of cement.
 At higher dosages, there is danger of
excessive retardation and bleeding.
 Also, returns diminish, and excessive air
entrainment can occur.
High-range water reducers
 1st generation: Lignosulphonates at high dosages
 2nd generation: Polysulphonates
 - Sulphonated melamine formaldehyde
(SMF)
 - Sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde
(SNF)
 3rd generation:
 - Polycarboxylates
 - Polyacrylates
 - Monovinyl alcohols
 Typical dosage: 0.7 – 1.0% by weight of cement.
Also called ‘Super plasticisers’
Action of Superplasticizers
 Surface adsorption
 Inhibition of reactive sites

Action of Super plasticizers
Surface Adsorption
 Negative charges on surface of fine powders
 Surface adsorption increases with molecular

weight
 Calcium ions promote surface adsorption

Inhibition of Reactive Sites
 Some low molecular wt organic materials
cover reactive sites and inhibit reactions
 Examples: Starch, Glucose
 Reactive sites may be inhibited by low
molecular wt fractions
 This leads to excessive retardation
Sequence of addition of WRs
 Generally, water reducers are added
along with the mix water to the concrete
mixture.
 In the case of super plasticizers, it may
be advantageous to add it to the mix in
two, or even three, operations, since the
slump loss is rapid
2. Set-controlling chemicals
• Accelerators
• Retarders
Applications
 Accelerators
- Earlier finishing of slabs
- Increase early age strength
- Early removal of formwork
- Cold-weather concreting
 Retarders
- Hot-weather concreting
- ‘Long-haul’ applications
- Workable for longer time
Common issues with set-
 controllers
Essential to pay particular attention to
dosage
 Same chemical may behave as accelerator or
retarder depending on concentration
 Admixtures should be added soon after
cement and water come into contact
3. Air-entraining agents
 Improve workability
 Reduce segregation and bleeding
 Mainly – Protect against damage due to
freezing and thawing cycles
 Problem – reduced strength due to
increased porosity
The chemistry
 Air-entraining agents are also surface-active
chemicals.
 Unlike the water-reducing surfactants, the
hydrocarbon chain does not have any polar
groups, and is entirely hydrophobic.
 The hydrophilic polar groups are similar to
water reducers.
Mode of action
 Air bubbles are generated during the agitation and
mixing of the concrete.
 The air-entraining agents simply help to stabilize
these bubbles by altering the surface tension of
water.
 Some common chemicals used as air entrainers are
fatty acids, synthetics like dodecyl benzene
sulfonate etc.
 Air entrainers are added to the concrete mixture
either early in the process with the sand and coarse
aggregate or after the cement has been added
along with some of the mix water.
 Air entraining chemicals should never be mixed
with any other chemical additives.
Small and stable air bubbles
required
Air void parameters – total
entrained air, and distance
between voids (not more than
200 micron)
4. Specialty admixtures
iscosity modifying agents (VMAs)
Applications
 To provide stability to extremely flowable
concrete (which maybe prone to

segregation)
 To prevent the wash-out of concrete in
underwater applications
 In this case the VMA is also called ‘Anti-
washout admixture’
VMA – Mechanism of action
 Adsorption: Long-chain polymer molecules
adhere to the periphery of water molecules,
thus adsorbing and fixing part of the mix
water and thereby expanding; this causes an
increase in the viscosity.
 Association: Molecules in adjacent polymer
chains develop attractive forces, thus
further blocking the motion of water by
forming a viscous gel.
 The dosage of VMA is generally 0.03 –
0.08% by weight of cement.
Shrinkage reducing
 admixtures
SRM contain chemicals such as
polyoxyalkylene that reduce the surface tension
of water in the capillaries, thus reducing the
tensile stresses on drying.
 These admixtures are typically used at a high
dosage – about 2 – 4% by weight of cement.
Corrosion inhibitors
Also, specialty admixtures

Process of corrosion
Use of corrosion inhibitors
 Mechanisms of action
· Oxidizing or non-oxidizing passivators of steel
· Oxygen scavengers
· Film forming compounds (adsorption)
· Cathodic effects: paste can be made hydrophobic
Some typical corrosion inhibitors are:
 Inorganic: Calcium nitrite
 Organic: Amines, esters
 These compounds are usually added at high dosages, ~ 2% by
weight of cement  very expensive!!!
 The amines coat the steel and provide a film on the steel
surface, while the esters make the paste hydrophobic and
reduce the availability of water for the cathodic reaction.
Cost of chemical
admixtures
Use of admixtures generally tends to
drive up the cost
 Air entrainers are typically cheap, so are
conventional water reducers;
 but SPs, especially the new generation,
can increase costs substantially

2.3 Chemical admixtures

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2.3 Chemical admixtures

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Chemical Admixtures

N orm al M id -ran g e H ig h ran g e

 Inhibition of reactive sites

 Surface adsorption increases with molecular

 Calcium ions promote surface adsorption

concrete (which maybe prone to

Also, specialty admixtures

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