BCT 613: ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

TOPIC 1 : ADMIXTURES

Building Materials
Great architecture are derived from fundamental building materials...
LEARNING OUTCOME
Upon completion of this lecture, the student will be able to:

• Explain the definition of admixture

• Describe the functions of admixture

• Classify the types of admixture

• Identify the function of air entraining, chemical and mineral admixtures

LECTURE CONTENT
1. Definition
2. Purposes of admixture
3. Types of admixture
4. Air entraining admixtures
5. Chemical admixtures
6. Mineral admixtures
DEFINITION
• Admixture is material other than cement, water and aggregate which added to
the concrete mix immediately during / before mixing in order to modify /
improve one or more specific properties of concrete either in fresh or
hardened state.

• Additive is a material which is added at the time of grinding cement clinker at

the cement factory.

• Overdose – will have adverse effect on the properties of concrete.

• Should only be employed only after an appropriate evaluation on its effect on
the particular concrete under the condition in which concrete is intended to be
used.
PURPOSES
Reasons for using Admixtures

• Reduce cost of concrete construction.

• Achieve certain properties more effectively than by other means.

• Ensure quality of concrete during stages of mixing, transporting, placing and

curing in adverse conditions.

• Overcome certain emergencies during concreting.

• Improve or modify some or several properties of Portland cement concrete.

• Compensate for some deficiencies.

• Note: Admixtures are not a solution for poor mix design nor sloppy concrete
practice. They are aimed at providing a more economical solution and
enhanced concrete properties.
PURPOSES
Modification of Fresh Concrete

• Increase workability without increasing water content or to decrease water

content at the same workability.

• Retard or accelerate the time of initial setting.

• To modify the rate or capacity for bleeding or both.

• To improve segregation

• To improve penetration and increase pumpability

• Reduce the rate of slump loss

PURPOSES
Modification of Hardened Concrete Properties

• Accelerate the rate of strength gain

• Increase ultimate strength

• Increase durability

• Reduce permeability

• Compensate for shrinkage

• Inhibit corrosion
TYPES OF ADMIXTURES
Admixtures can be roughly divided into the following groups :

• Air-entraining admixtures: This kind of admixture is used to improve the

resistance of concrete

• Chemical Admixtures: There are water soluble compounds added primarily

to control setting and early hardening of fresh concrete or to reduce the water
requirements.

• Mineral admixtures: There are finely divided solids to improve workability,

durability, or provide additional cementing properties. (i.e. slags, silica fume,
fly ash, and pozzolans).

• Miscellaneous admixtures: Those admixtures that don't fall under the above
categories such as latexes, corrosion inhibitors and expansive admixtures.
AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES
Air Entraining Admixtures

• Used to purposely introduce and stabilize microscopic air bubbles in concrete.

The main reason for air entrainment is to improve the durability of the concrete
to freeze thaw degradation.
• Entrained air voids usually size ranging from 50 microns to 200 microns
distributed evenly in the entire mass of concrete
• As un-reacted water freezes it expands 9 % by volume on phase change. This
internal volume expansion causes internal stresses in the matrix. It can
generate cracks in the concrete.
• The formation of ice in the pore spaces generates pressure on any remaining
unfrozen water.
• Introducing a large quantity of air bubbles provides a place for this water to
move in to relieving the internal pressure.
• With respect to the concrete volume, the air content should be in the range of
4-8% by volume. The concrete normally has entrained air, the admixture
increases the total volume of the air voids by 3-4% of the concrete volume.
AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES
Air Entrained Air vs Entrapped Air

Entrained air bubbles are not like entrapped air voids, which occur in all concretes as a result of mixing,
handling, and placing. Intentionally entrained air bubbles are extremely small in size, between 50 to 200
μm in diameter, while entrapped voids are usually 3mm or larger. As shown here, the bubbles are not
interconnected. They are well dispersed and randomly distributed.
AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES
Air Entraining Agents

The following types of air entraining agents are used for making air entrained
concrete.

• Natural wood resins

• Animal and vegetable fats and oils, such as tallow, olive oil and their fatty acids
such as stearic and oleic acids.
• Various wetting agents such as alkali salts or sulphated and sulphonated
organic compounds.
• Water soluble soaps of resin acids, and animal and vegetable fatty acids.
• Miscellaneous materials such as the sodium salts of petroleum sulphonic
acids, hydrogen peroxide and aluminium powder, etc.
AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES

Effect of Air on Other Concrete Properties

• Increase workability and cohesiveness of fresh concrete.

• Considerable reduction in bleeding and segregation.
• Decreased strength (10-20% for most air entrained concrete)
• Increased durability
• If a lower w/c ratio is used to account for the increased slump, some of the
strength reduction will be offset.
• In addition, the lower w/c ratio that can be used and the better compaction
• Increases the resistance to chemical attack
• Improves placeability, and early finishing.
• Decreases the permeability.
• Reduces the unit weight.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Important Chemical Admixtures

• Water reducing admixtures

 Plasticizers
 Super plasticizers
• Retarders
• Accelerators
• Corrosion inhibitors
• Shrinkage reducing admixtures
• Damp-proofing/Waterproofing Admixtures
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Water Reducing Admixtures (WRA)
• In order to produce stronger concrete, less water is added which makes the
concrete mixture less workable and difficult to mix.

• WRA used to reduce the amount of water necessary to produce concrete of

given consistency/ to increase the slump for a give w/c or to obtain specific
strength at lower cement content

• The presence of certain surface active agents or chemicals in water-reducing

admixture give the property of inducing a repelling forces between cement
particles and therefore acts as dispersing agent in concrete.

• WRA can be divided into:

1. Plasticizers - normal water reducers

2. Superplasticizer - high range water reducers

CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Action of Plasticizers

The action of plasticizers is mainly to fludify the mix and improve the workability
of concrete , mortar or grout .
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Water Reducing Admixtures (WRA)
Where high degree of workability is required

• Thin walls of water retaining structures with high percentage of steel

reinforcement
• Deep beams, column and beam junctions
• Tremie concreting
• Pumping of concrete
• Hot weather concreting
• Concrete to be conveyed for considerable distance and in ready mixed
concrete industries.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Plasticizers

These admixtures are used for following purposes:

• To achieve a higher strength by decreasing the water cement ratio at the same
workability as an admixture free mix.
• To achieve the same workability by decreasing the cement content so as to
reduce the heat of hydration in mass concrete.
• To increase the workability so as to ease placing in accessible locations
• Water reduction more than 5% but less than 12%
• Plasticizers are usually based on Lignosulphonate, which is a natural polymer,
derived from wood processing in the paper industry.
• Adding 1-2% plasticizer per unit weight of cement is usually sufficient. Adding
an excessive amount of plasticizer will result in excessive segregation of
concrete which is not advisable.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Function of Plasticizers

Dispersion:
• Portland cement being in fine state will have a tendency to flocculate in wet
concrete, these flocculation entraps certain amount of water used in the mix.
• When its used, they get adsorbed on the cement particles, creates particle to
particle repulsive forces which overcome the attractive forces.
• When cement particles are deflocculated, the water trapped inside the flocs
gets released & now available to fluidify the mix.

Lubricating:
• The agents are organic by nature, thus they lubricate the mix reducing the
friction and increasing the workability.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers (High-Range Water Reducers)

• Its developed in Japan & Germany during 1960 & 1970.

• They are chemically different from normal plasticizers.
• Reduce water requirement up to 40%
• The mechanism is more or less same as the plasticizers but very expansive
• Materials - Sulphonated malanie-formaldehyde condensates (SMF),
Sulphonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates (SNF), Modified
lignosulphonates (MLS) and Other types
• The new generation of this kind of admixtures is represented by
polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizers (PCEs).
• Applications where flowing concrete is used:
1. thin-section placements,
2. areas of closely spaced and congested reinforcing steel,
3. pumped concrete to reduce pump pressure, thereby increasing lift and
distance capacity,
4. areas where conventional consolidation methods are impractical or can
not be used, and
5. for reducing handling costs.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers

It enables easy placing of concrete even in areas of heavy reinforcing steel

congestion
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers
Effect on Concrete Properties

Fresh Concrete
• Improved workability of fresh concrete
• Some types may increase bleeding (hydroxycarboxylic acids).
• They tend to increase air entrainment (so less air entraining admixture can be
used)
• Tend to retard set times.
• Rate of slump loss increases with normal-range water reducers about same
for superplasticizers.

Hardened Concrete
• Increased compressive strength due to ability to reduce w/c ratio and better
dispersion of cement in paste
• Increased durability due to lower w/c ratio.
• Rapid strength gain without increased heat generation.
• Used for high strength concrete.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers
Effect on Concrete Properties
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers
They flowing concrete with very high slump in the range of 7-9 inches (175-225
mm) to be used in heavily reinforced structures
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers
High passing ability
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers

Advantages Of SP

• Significant water reduction

• Reduced cement contents
• Increased workability - It enables easy placing of concrete even in areas of
heavy reinforcing steel congestion
• Reduced effort required for placement
• More effective use of cement
• More rapid rate of early strength development;
• Increased long-term strength; &
• Reduced permeability.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Super Plasticizers

Disadvantages Of SP

• Additional admixture cost (the concrete in- place cost may be reduced)
• Slump loss greater than conventional concrete
• Modification of air-entraining admixture dosage
• Less responsive with some cement
• Mild discoloration of light-colored concrete
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Retarders
• Retarding admixtures are used to slow down the speed of the reaction
between cement and water by affecting the growth of the hydration products or
reducing the rate of water penetration to the cement particles.
• The use of a retarder will increase the setting time and may delay strength
development of the concrete.
• Retarders can be used:
i. to allow the placing of a large pour of concrete over several hours.
ii. to place concrete in layers without cold joints.
iii. to extend the time between mixing and placing.
iv. to prevent setting of the concrete in the truck in case of delay
v. Used in hot weather – to reduce premature stiffening of concrete which
cause possible loss in workability
vi. delay the set for special finishing processes such as an exposed
aggregate surface
• The typical materials used as retarders are: Lignin, Gypsum, Borax, Sugars,
Tartaric acid and salts.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Retarders
Effects on Concrete Properties

1. Delay the set of the concrete.

2. Because some are water reducers, they may increase the amount of
entrained air.
3. Increase slump.
4. They may increase the rate of slump loss though the set has been retarded
thus decreasing the time available for placing.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Accelerators
• The admixture that causes an increase in the rate of hydration of the hydraulic
cement and thus shortens the time of setting, increases the rate of strength
development.

• They are used to speed construction permitting earlier removal of formwork,

earlier finishing of surfaces, or earlier load carrying capacity.

• These also include admixtures for quick-setting applications, in a few minutes

(like shotcreting, plugging leaks and emergency repairs).

• They can also be beneficial for cold-weather concreting.

• The typical materials used :
1. soluble inorganic salts (Calcium chloride,
carbonates, aluminates, fluorides, and ferric salts)
2. soluble organic compounds (triethanolamine,
calcium formate, calcium acetate)
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Accelerators
Effect on Concrete Properties:

• They have the exact opposite effect of retarders; they increase the rate of
hydration of C3S by shortening the dormant period and also may increase the
rate of hydration later on.
• Quick-setting admixtures are believed to cause flash setting of C3A
• Expect little effect on air entrainment Less time for placing and handling will
result.
• Higher 1- and possibly 7-say strengths will be realized
• Quick-setting admixtures will reduce durability
• CaCl may increase the rate of corrosion of reinforcing steel, though the levels
of allowable CaCl has not been agreed upon.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Corrosion Inhibitors
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Corrosion Inhibitors
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Corrosion Inhibitors
• The chlorides can cause corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete.

• Ferrous oxide and ferric oxide form on the surface of reinforcing steel in
concrete.

• Ferrous oxide reacts with chlorides to form complexes that move away from
the steel to form rust. The chloride ions continue to attack the steel until the
oxide layer is destroyed.

• Corrosion-inhibiting admixtures chemically arrest the corrosion reaction.

• Commercially available corrosion inhibitors include:

 calcium nitrite,
 sodium nitrite,
 dimethyl ethanolamine,
 amines,
 phosphates,
 ester amines.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Shrinkage Reducing Admixture (SRA)
Shrinkage cracks, such as shown on this bridge deck, can be reduced with the
use of good concreting practices and shrinkage reducing admixtures.

SRA is made from liquid organic compound consisting of a blend of polylene

glycol derivatives.
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Damp-proofing Admixtures
The passage of water through concrete can usually be traced to the existence of
cracks or areas of incomplete consolidation.

Sound, dense concrete made with a water cement ratio of less than 0.50 by mass
will be watertight if it is properly placed and cured.

Admixtures known as damp proofing agents include certain soaps, stearates, and
petroleum products.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Why Mineral Admixtures ?

Improves many qualities of concrete, such as:

• Lower the heat of hydration and thermal shrinkage;

• Increase the water tightness;
• Reduce the alkali-aggregate reaction;
• Improve resistance to attack by sulphate soils and sea water;
• Improve extensibility;
• Lower susceptibility to dissolution and leaching;
• Improve workability;
• Lower costs.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Types of mineral admixtures

Natural Pozzolans Artificial Pozzolans

• Clay and Shales • Fly ash

• Opalinc Cherts • Blast Furnace Slag
• Diatomaceous Earth • Silica Fume
• Volcanic Tuffs and Pumicites. • Rice Husk ash
• Metakaoline
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Fly ash

Fly ash is finely divided residue resulting from the combustion of powdered
coal and transported by the flue gases and collected by;
• Electrostatic
• Precipitator
Fly ash is the most widely
used pozzolanic material
all over the world.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Types of Fly ash

Class F Class C

• Fly ash normally produced by • Fly ash normally produced by burning

burning anthracite or lignite or sub-bituminous coal. Some
bituminous coal, usually has class C fly ash may have CaO content
less than 5% CaO. Class F fly in excess of 10%. In addition to
ash has pozzolanic properties pozzolanic properties, class C fly ash
only. also possesses cementitious
properties.
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Fly ash

Amount used

• Up to 35% by mass of cement & minimum

shall not be less than 15%.
Results - effects
• Reduction of water demand for desired slump.
With the reduction of unit water content,
bleeding and drying shrinkage will also be
reduced.
• fly ash is not highly reactive, the heat of
hydration can be reduced through
replacement of part of the cement with fly ash.
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Fly ash
Effects of Fly Ash on Hardened High volume Fly Ash has been used
Concrete in the Barker Hall Project, University
of California at Berkeley for the
• contributes to the strength of concrete due construction of shear walls.
to its pozzolanic reactivity.
• continued pozzolanic reactivity concrete
develops greater strength at later age not
at initial stage.
• contributes to making the texture of
concrete dense, resulting in decrease of
water permeability and gas permeability.

Used at

Many high-rise buildings, Industrial structures,

Water front structures, concrete roads, roller
compacted concrete dams.
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Silica Fume

It is a product resulting from reduction of high purity quartz

with coal in an electric arc furnace in the manufacture of
silicon or ferrosilicon alloy.
• Micro silica is initially produced as an ultrafine
undensified powder
• At least 85% SiO2 content
• Mean particle size between 0.1 and 0.2 micron
• Minimum specific surface area is 15,000 m2/kg
• Spherical particle shape
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Silica Fume
Micro silica is available in the following forms:
• Undensified forms with bulk density of 200–300 kg/m3
• Densified forms with bulk density of 500–600 kg/m3
• Micro-pelletised forms with bulk density of 600–800 kg/m3
• Slurry forms with density 1400 kg/m3
• Admixtures and Construction Chemicals.
• Slurry is produced by mixing undensified micro silica powder and water in
equal proportions by weight. Slurry is the easiest and most practical way to
introduce micro silica into the concrete mix.
• Surface area 15–20 m2/g.
• Standard grade slurry pH value 4.7, specific gravity 1.3 to 1.4, dry content of
micro silica 48 to 52%.
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Silica Fume

Effect on fresh concrete

• The increase in water demand of concrete containing microsilica will be about

1% for every 1% of cement substituted.
• lead to lower slump but more cohesive mix.
• make the fresh concrete sticky in nature and hard to handle.
• large reduction in bleeding and concrete with microsilica could be handled and
transported without segregation.
• to plastic shrinkage cracking and, therefore, sheet or mat curing should be
considered.
• produces more heat of hydration at the initial stage of hydration.
• the total generation of heat will be less than that of reference concrete.
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Silica Fume

Effect on hardened concrete Used for

• Modulus of elasticity of microsilica • Conserve cement

concrete is less.
• Produce ultra high strength concrete
• Improvement in durability of of the order of 70 to 120 Mpa.
concrete.
• Increase early strength of fly
• Resistance against frost damage. concrete.
• Addition of silica fume in small • Control alkali-aggregate reaction.
quantities actually increases the
• Reduce sulfate attack & chloride
expansion.
associated corrosion.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Rice Husk Ash

Rice husk ash is obtained by

• Burning rice husk in a controlled

manner without causing environmental
pollution.
• Material of future as mineral additives.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Rice Husk Ash

Amount used Contains

• 10% by weight of cement. • Amorphous silica (90% SiO2) in

• It greatly enhances the very high proportion when burnt in
workability and controlled manner.
impermeability of concrete. • 5% carbon.
• 2% K2O.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Rice Husk Ash
Effects

• Reduces susceptible to acid attack and improves resistance to

chloride penetration.
• Reduces large pores and porosity resulting very low permeability.
• Reduces the free lime present in the cement paste.
• Decreases the permeability of the system.
• Improves overall resistance to CO2 attack.
• Enhances resistance to corrosion of steel in concrete.
• Reducing micro cracking and improving freeze-thaw resistance.
• Improves capillary suction and accelerated chloride diffusivity
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Blast Furnace Slag

• Blast-furnace slag is a nonmetallic

product consisting essentially of silicates
and aluminates of calcium and other
bases.
• The molten slag is rapidly chilled by
quenching in water to form a glassy sand
like granulated material.
• The granulated material when further
ground to less than 45 micron will have
specific surface of about 400 to 600 m2/
kg (Blaine).
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Blast Furnace Slag

Effects on fresh concrete Effects on hardened concrete

• Reduces the unit water content • Reduced heat of hydration

necessary to obtain the same • Refinement of pore structures
slump.
• Reduced permeabilities to the
• Water used for mixing is not
external agencies
immediately lost, as the surface
hydration of slag is slightly slower • Increased resistance to
than that of cement. chemical attack.
• Reduction of bleeding.
MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Metakaolin

• Highly reactive metakaolin is made by

water processing to remove
unreactive impurities to make100%
reactive pozzolan.
• Such a product, white or cream in
colour, purified, thermally activated is
called High Reactive Metakaolin
(HRM).
 MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Metakaolin

Effects of Metakaolin Use of Metakaolin

• High reactive metakaolin shows high • The high reactive metakaolin is

pozzolanic reactivity and reduction in having the potential to compete
Ca(OH)2 even as early as one day. with silica fume.
• The cement paste undergoes distinct
densification.
• Densification includes an increase in
strength and decrease in
permeability.
THE END……
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