THE INFLUENCE OF NEW GENERATION SUPERPLASTICIZER ON THE FLUIDITY

OF CONCRETE MIXES
Aleksander Kapelko1, Rafa Kapelko2
1

Institute of Building Engineering at Wrocaw University of Technology, Plac Grunwaldzki 11,

50-377 Wrocaw, Poland, Email: aleksander.kapelko@pwr.wroc.pl

Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science at Wrocaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 14a,
50-370 Wrocaw, Poland, Email: rafal.kapelko@pwr.wroc.pl

Abstract. The paper analyses the time of concrete mixes consistency persistence at different levels of consistency
classes, while the new generation superplasticizer PC (modified polycarboxylenes) is added. It presents authors own
investigations into fluidity change of concrete mixes during the triple adding of superplasticizer PC. The experiments
were carried out using two types of aggregates: natural and granitic, as well as two types of cements: CEMI 32,5R
and CEMIII/A 32,5NA. The investigations shown the significant influence of PC on the plasticization of concrete
mixes. The superplasticizer addition in three portions in total amount of 1.55, 1.19 and 0,73 % relative to cement
mass allows for the concrete mixes fluidity regulation and the slump retention at different levels of consistency. It
was found that the rate of slump loss depends on the aggregate and cement type, while the fluidization on the amount
of cement. The paper further analyses the relationship between the time of concrete mixes consistency persistence at
the level of consistency S2, S3, S4 and the amount of cement, the water absorption by aggregates and the
mineralogical and chemical composition of binders.
Keywords: superplasticizer PC, Portland cement, blast furnace cement, natural aggregate, granitic aggregate,
concrete mixture, slump loss, workability,

1. Introduction
The disadvantage of using high-range water
reducing admixtures superplasticizers: sulfonated
naphthalene formaldehyde (SNF) and sulfonated
melamine formaldehyde (SMF) is a limited time of their
reaction in concrete mixtures. After approximately 60-90
minutes when the ingredients are mixed, the admixtures
loose their plastifying properties. In order to sustain the
high
workability
of
concrete
mixtures
the
superplasticizers might be added in portions [19-20,22].
The new generation of superplasticizers indicates a steric
hindrance effect long polymer chains prevent concrete
grains from drawing together; instead of diffusing the
adhesive grains agglomerates, they inhibit them to
emerge. The steric hindrance effect of functioning of new
generation superplasticizers lengthens the effective
reaction in comparison with traditional superplasticizers

[5,9,15-16,19]. The investigations on the change in the

fluidity of concrete mixtures after adding the new
generation superplasticizers in portions, after loosing the
fluidity to original workability, have not been undertaken
in available literature.
The paper presents experimental tests on the new
generation superplasticizer PC (carboxylic acid) influence
on the fluidity change of concrete mixtures [1-12,16-17].
2. Investigations of the changes in consistency of
concrete mixture versus time.
The schedule of investigations consisted of
experimental research using two cements: Portland
cement CEMI 32,5R and blast furnace CEM III/A
32,5NA, natural aggregate (gravels: 816 mm and 28
mm and sand 02 mm), granitic aggregate (grits: 816
mm and 28 mm), tap water and superplasticizer PC.

slump, [cm]

20
15
10
5
0
0

200

400

600

800

time, [min]
Fig 1. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B1 and C1

slump, [cm]

20
15
10
5
0
0

200

400

600

800

time, [min]
Fig 2. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B2 and C2

slump, [cm]

20
15
10
5
0
0

200

400

600

800

time, [min]
Fig 3. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B3 and C3

20
slump, [cm]

The natural aggregates were experimentally combined in

order to obtain an optimum aggregate composition,
characterized by maximum compactness and minimum
amount of water adsorbed by the aggregate. 24 concrete
mixtures have been prepared [21-22]:
a) 12 control mixtures with consistency class S4 or
between S3 and S4, among them there were six
containing CEMI 32,5R in the amounts of 300 kg/m3,
350 kg/m3 and 400 kg/m3 (three with natural aggregate
B1, B2 and B3 and three with granitic aggregate B4, B5
and B6) and also six with cement CEMIII/A 32,5NA in
the amounts of 300 kg/m3, 350 kg/m3 and 400 kg/m3
(three from natural aggregate B7, B8 and B9 and three
from granitic aggregate B10, B11 and B12).
b) 12 mixtures with superplasticizer PC in the proper
amount for increasing the fluidity of concrete mixtures
with a consistency class very similar to fluidity of
mixtures from B1 to B12, among them there were six
containing cement CEMI 32,5R in the amounts of 300
kg/m3, 350 kg/m3 and 400 kg/m3 (three from natural
aggregate C1, C2 and C3, and also three form granitic
aggregate C4, C5 and C6) and six containing CEMIII/A
32,5NA in the amounts of 300 kg/m3, 350 kg/m3 and 400
kg/m3 (three from natural aggregate - C7, C8 and C9 and
three from granitic aggregate C10, C11 and C12).
Initial slump in the control mixtures and with
superplasticizer equaled 1020 mm (consistency class
S1). When the amount of water was increased, the control
concrete mixtures changed the consistency class from S1
to S4 [23].
Adding water increased the ratio w/c in comparison with
concrete mixtures containing superplasticizer.
To flowing the concrete mixtures from the consistency
class S1 to S4, superplasticizer was added in the amounts
of 0.517, 0.397 and 0.245 % by weight of cement.
The process of components mixing took place in the
laboratory concrete mixer and continued for 3 minutes.
Before the consistence change was determined, the
mixture was being mixed for 1 additional minute. The
consistency change of control concrete mixtures in the
function of time was being determined until the concrete
mixture lost its fluidity, which approximated the slump of
10-20 mm (S1).
The fluidity of concrete mixtures with superplasticizer
was regulated and determined in the following way: a)
the first amount of PC was added together with mixing
water to obtain the value of fluidity at the level of control
mixtures fluidity (S4), b) when the concrete mixture had
lost its fluidity to the level of initial consistency of
control mixture (S1), the procedure of PCs addition was
being repeated - until the time when the level of fluidity
similar to the one from the first PCs addition was
obtained (S4), c) the following, third PCs addition, was
made when concrete mixture slump decreased to the
level of initial consistency of control mixture (S1); the
consistency change after third PCs addition (S4) was
being determined until the concrete mixture lost its
workability (slump ~ 10-20 mm).
The relations between the concrete mixture consistency
and the time are presented in figures 112 [23].

15
10
5
0
0

200

400
time, [min]

600

800

Fig 4. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B4 and C4

20
slump, [cm]

slump, [cm]

20
15
10

15
10
5

5
0
0

0
0

200

400

600

200

800

400

600

800

time, [min]

time, [min]
Fig 9. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B9 and C9
Fig 5. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B5 and C5

20
slump, [cm]

slump, [cm]

20
15
10

15
10
5

5
0
0

0
0

200

400

600

200

800

400

600

800

time, [min]

time, [min]
Fig 10. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B10 and C10
Fig 6. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B6 and C6

20
slump, [cm]

slump, [cm]

20
15
10

15
10
5

5
0
0

0
0

200

400

600

200

800

400

600

800

time, [min]

time, [min]
Fig 11. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B11 and C11
Fig 7. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B7 and C7

20
slump, [cm]

slump, [cm]

20
15
10

15
10
5

5
0
0

0
0

200

400

600

time, [min]
Fig 8. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B8 and C8

800

200

400

600

time, [min]
Fig 12. Fluidity of concrete mixtures B12 and C12

800

Table 1 presents the time when the fluidity of concrete mixtures is sustained at the level of particular consistency class.
Table 1 The time when the fluidity of concrete mixtures is sustained at the level of particular consistency classes S2-S4.

Code of concrete
mixture and w/c
B1 0,872
C1 0,683
B2 0,722
C2 0,571
B3 0,632
C3 0,530
B4 0,848
C4 0,697
B5 0,715
C5 0,598
B6 0,638
C6 0,537
B7 0,872
C7 0,683
B8 0,722
C8 0,571
B9 0,632
C9 0,530
B10 0,848
C10 0,697
B11 0,715
C11 0,598
B12 0,638
C12 0,537

The time when the fluidity of concrete mixtures is sustained at the

level of particular consistency class, t [min]
S4

S3

S2

90
160
30
205
60
210
225
485
60
180
90
245
40
245
65
175
425
485
300

50
105
25
100
45
80
135
130
120
100
90
110
50
180
40
105
30
65
50
150
55
90
135
120

45
95
60
85
40
60
130
90
60
80
70
70
80
95
35
80
60
95
60
65
90
80
100
110

The table 2 presents the equations of relations between the slump and the time, and the value of correlation coefficient.
The empirical relations between the concrete mixtures consistency and the time of its sustainability are good
represented with the straight lines and polynomials of degree 2 at the correlation coefficient of 0,96 1,00.
Table 2 Relations between the slump (s) of concrete mixtures and the time (t).

Code of concrete
mixture

C1

C2

s = - 0,0677t + 20,6

Correlation
coefficient R

B1
1 dosage

s = - 0,0019t - 0,379t + 20,797

0,98
1,00

2 dosage

s = - 0,0003t 2 - 0,0581t + 28,229

0,98

3 dosage

s = - 0,0002t 2 + 0,059t + 13,833

s = - 0,0646t + 15,772

0,98

B2
1 dosage

s = - 0,0016t - 0,0354t + 18,564

0,97
0,99

2 dosage

s = - 0,0006t 2 + 0,1226t + 12,786

0,99

3 dosage

s = - 0,0002t + 0,0973t + 8,2905

s = - 0,0771t + 19,682

1,00

B3
1 dosage
C3

Equation

s = - 0,0005t - 0,1496t + 20,377

0,99
0,98

2 dosage

s = - 0,0007t 2 + 0,1548t + 10,81

0,99

3 dosage

s = - 0,0004t 2 + 0,1768t 2,4702

0,99

C4

s = - 0,0013t + 0,0427t + 15,973

0,98
0,99

2 dosage

s = - 0,0004t 2 + 0,1282t + 8,5766

0,97

3 dosage

s = - 0,0005t + 0,347t 47,661

s = - 0,0466t + 17,458

0,99

B5
1 dosage
C5

C8

s = - 0,0002t + 0,031t + 18,05

s = - 0,0003t 2 + 0,2178t 24,569

0,96

3 dosage

s = - 0,0011t 2 + 1,4021t 439,17

s = - 0,047t + 17,94

1,00

C10

C11

s = - 0,0005t - 0,0262t + 16,826

2 dosage

s = - 0,0004t 2 + 0,1397t + 4,5595

0,98

3 dosage

s = - 0,0004t 2 + 0,3192t 46,933

s = - 0,0614t + 20,638

0,99

s = - 0,0003t - 0,1137t + 21,055

0,99
0,99

2 dosage

s = - 0,0001t 2 + 0,043t + 16,341

0,97

3 dosage

s = - 0,0006t 2 + 0,5657t - 108,6

s = - 0,0882t + 18,923

0,98

B8
1 dosage

s = - 0,0003t - 0,1106t + 20,566

0,98
0,98

2 dosage

s = - 0,0005t 2 + 0,1264t + 10,946

0,99

3 dosage

s = - 0,0007t + 0,4556t - 58,429

s = - 0,0774t + 20,188

0,98

s = 0,0004t 0,228t + 19,763

0,99
0,98

2 dosage

s = - 0,0005t 2 + 0,0952t + 15,476

0,99

3 dosage

s = - 0,0003t 2 + 0,1261t + 9,8714

0,98

B10

s = 0,0001t 0,0893t + 16,256

0,99

1 dosage

s = - 0,0004t + 0,018t + 18,812

0,99

2 dosage

s = - 0,0002t 2 + 0,0965t + 6,1349

0,98

3 dosage

s = - 0,0005t 2 + 0,5847t - 149,75

0,99

B11

s = 0,0001t 2 0,0842t + 15,288

0,98

1 dosage

s = - 0,0002t 2 + 0,031t + 18,05

0,98

2 dosage

s = - 0,0003t 2 + 0,2178t 24,569

0,96

3 dosage

s = - 0,0011t 2 + 1,4021t 439,17

s = - 0,0451t + 17,134

1,00

B12
1 dosage
C12

0,97
0,98

B9
1 dosage
C9

2 dosage

B7
1 dosage
C7

0,98
0,98

B6
1 dosage
C6

s = - 0,0444t + 16,138

B4
1 dosage

s = 0,0001t 0,1322t + 19,911

0,98
0,98

2 dosage

s = - 0,0004t 2 + 0,157t + 3,297

0,98

3 dosage

s = - 0,0003t 2 + 0,2552t 30,643

0,98

3. Discussion of the test results

Concrete mixtures consisting a larger amount of
cement require a smaller amount of new generation
superplasticizer to increase flowing to the consistency
class level S4. Triple admixture addition allows to
preserve a consistency of concrete mixtures at the high
level for a longer period. For example mixtures without
admixtures preserve their fluidity at the class level S4 for
maximum period of 90 minutes, and at the level S3 for up
to 130 minutes. After three doses of admixture the
periods are significantly longer: a) for class level S4 70485 minutes, b) for class level S3 35-130 minutes,
respectively (figures.1-12 and table 1). After the first
dose it is workability loss.
It is associated mainly with adsorption of admixture on
C3A and C4AF phases and alkalies [1-17]. After the
second dose one can observe a stabilisation of high
fluidity of concrete mixtures for longer period (figures.112 and table 1). This effect is influenced by sterichindrance effect, which is an action of superplasticizer
based on polycarboxylenes.
Additionally, new admixture implicates the traditional
characteristics of superplasticizers: it creates an
electrostatic repulsion effect (zeta potential) on the
cement surface, reduces the surface tension, increases
surface hydrofility of cement grains, retards the cement
hydration, causes Toms effect and tribology effect.
Observed variations of slump loss in concrete mixtures
composed of two types of aggregates and cements
implies mainly from the differences in water absorption
caused by the aggregate and the differences in chemical
and mineralogical composition of binders.
Natural aggregate absorbes more water on its surface
what causes a shorter period of preserving high fluidity of
mixtures in comparison with granitic aggregate. Applied
cements have very similar specific surface (Blaine), but
they differ in the amount of clinkier and blast-furnace
slag.
Irrespective of the type of aggregate and cement,
optimum cement quantity in concrete mixtures for
obtaining a high fluidity level lasting for a longer time is
350 kg in 1 m3 of concrete.
Concrete mixtures with admixture in the respect the
amount of time slump retention on the consistency class
level S4 can be put in the series:
time (t) mixtures C2,C5,C8 and C11(c=350 kg/m3)
> time (t) mixtures C1, C4,C7 and C10 (c=300 kg/m3)
> time (t) mixtures C3,C6,C9 and C12 (c=400 kg/m3).

needs at the consistency class levels S4 or S3 respectively

to 8 hours and to 2 hours. Fluid control mixtures are
workable adequately at the levels S4 and S3 to 1,5 hour
and 2 hours. The observed differences in the periods of
retention of concrete mixtures high workability after
successive doses of superplasticizer result from
admixture absorption on the surfaces of cement phases
C3A, C4AF and alkalies, influence of steric-hindrance
mechanism of PC.
Moreover, the variation in concrete mixtures fluidity is
influenced by the amount of water absorbed by
aggregates and chemical and mineral composition of
cements used in the investigations.
4.3. High workability retains in mixtures containing
granitic aggregates in comparison to those with natural
aggregate. The granitic aggregate adsorbs less water on
its surface than natural aggregates and that lengthens the
period of sustaining the high workability of concrete
mixtures. The investigations showed that the optimal
cement amount in concrete mixtures is 350 kg/m3. That
amount of cement assures the high level of fluidity at the
consistency level S4 in the long time, regardless of the
cement or aggregate type. The impact of material and
technological factors on slump loss and retention at
certain levels of consistency is not fully explained in the
literature. It is necessary to research the variations in
fluidity of concrete mixtures in different material aspects
in order to optimize the implementation of
superplasticizer PC in building practice [15,22].
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1.

2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

7.

4. Conclusions
8.

4.1. New generation superplasticizer, designed

mainly to modify of traditional concretes, significantly
influences the concrete mixtures fluidity. The concrete
mixtures including smaller cement amounts require larger
amount of superplasticizer to increase fluidity.
4.2. Adding admixtures in three equal dosages to increase
fluidity of concrete mixtures allows to change their
fluidity, preserving the high workability for technological

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