AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE

COMMITTEE 212 – CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES

MEETING MINUTES – MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2006
DENVER, CO

In Attendance:

Members
William Phelan, Chairman Ken Rear
Brad Violetta, Secretary Lew Cook
Kari Yuers David Stokes
Dick Wing Larry Roberts
Cas Bognacki Arpad Savoly
Mike Pistilli John Wojakowski
Darmawan Ludirdja

Associate Members:
Bruce Strickland Claude Bedard
Rusty Winters Chuck Zalesiak – TAC
Tim Durning Pierre-Claver Nkinamubanz

Visitors
Gary Pritt Jeff Washburn Caroline Talhut
Joe Hiznay Andrea Boddy Jim Turici
Chuck Cornman Xinping Feng Nicholas Beaman
Barney Heller Paul Brooks

1. Call to Order: Chairman William Phelan convened the committee meeting at 2:00P.M.

2. Self-Introduction: Members and guests introduced themselves and their affiliations.

3. Meeting Minutes Approval: The minutes from the March 27, 2006, meeting in
Charlotte, NC, were approved as submitted. Secretary Violetta will post the approved
minutes on the ACI website.

1
4. ACI 212.3R, “Chemical Admixtures for Concrete”: The Committee is in the process of
updating the ACI 212.3R document. Chairman Phelan reviewed the status of the
document chapters:

The following chapters were previously approved:

Chapter 1 - General Information (Phelan)
Chapter 2 - Air-entraining Admixtures (Phelan)
Chapter 4 - Water-Reducing and Set-Retarding Admixtures (Violetta)

A committee ballot was initiated on 6/26/2006 for:

Chapter 3 - Accelerating Admixtures (Phelan)
Chapter 5 - Admixtures for Flowing Concrete (Bognacki)
Chapter 6 - Admixtures for Self-Consolidating Concrete (Roberts)
Chapter 7 - Cold Weather Admixture Systems (Korhonen)
Chapter 10 - Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures

Remaining Chapters
Chapter 8 - Admixtures for Very High-Early Strength
Chapter 9 - Admixtures for Recycled Water
Chapter 11 - Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures (Wojakowski)
Chapter 12 - Lithium Admixtures to Reduce Alkali Aggregate Reaction Expansion
(Stokes)
Chapter 13 - Permeability Reducing Admixtures (Yuers)
Chapter 14 - Miscellaneous Admixtures (Strickland)
Chapter 15 - References

Committee Action on Balloted Chapters:

Chapter 3: Accelerating Admixtures (Phelan): Chapter 3 received 12-Affirmative, 2-

Affirmative with Editorial Comments, and 3-Negative votes (Roberts, Violetta and
Wojakowski).

Section 3.1, 3.5.1: These sections need to address Types C and E accelerators
separately. Violetta to supply added text.

Section 3.1, third paragraph, first sentence: Rewrite as “Certain accelerating admixtures
used in combination……”

Section 3.2, first sentence: Rewrite as “Accelerating admixtures can be divided into four
groups: those that contain soluble inorganic salts, those that contain soluble organic
compounds, quick setting admixtures, and miscellaneous solid admixtures.”

Section 3.3, Second paragraph: Rewrite as: “Non-chloride accelerators are increasing
being used because of corrosion concerns of engineers and users. Caution is urged with
the use of accelerating admixtures in concrete containing shrinkage compensating
cements or shrinkage compensating components (ACI 223). Such concretes require
evaluation on a case-by-case basis, as the accelerator can effect the timing and amount
of expansion. Calcium chloride should not be used with calcium aluminates cement
because it retards of the hydration of the aluminates. Similarly, both calcium chloride and
potassium carbonate retard the setting time and decrease the early strength development
2
of rapid-hardening cements based on calcium fluoroaluminate (C11A7 - CaF2). Strengths
at 1 day however, are improved by these admixtures.”

Section 3.3, Third paragraph: Add as second last sentence: “Thus both quality and cost
considerations favor the use of accelerating admixtures.”

Section 3.4.1: Re-title section as “Reduce placing and finishing time”

Section 3.4.2: Re-title section as “Increase early strength gain”

Section 3.4.3: Rewrite first sentence: “Accelerators are almost always often chosen for
this type……”

Section 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8: Rearrange sections so that 3.6 is “Effect on fresh concrete”, 3.7
is “Effect on hardened concrete”, and 3.8 is “Corrosion of metals.” Place appropriate
subsections under proper section.

Section 3.7, Table 3.2: Mike Pistilli recommended that information in the Soxhlet test
method be added to this section. By a vote of 9 affirmative to 4 negative, the committee
agreed. Pistilli will provide more information to the chapter chair.

Section 3.7, first paragraph: Delete sentence “Some accelerating admixtures contain
substantial amounts of chlorides.”

Section 3.7, last paragraph: Change last two sentences to: Users should may request
that suppliers of all non-chloride admixtures containing sodium thiocyanates provide test
data information regarding the corrosion of steel in concrete. The test data information
should include corrosion results within the intended dosage range.

Based on these changes, Roberts, Violetta and Wojakowski withdraw their negative
votes.

Action: Make the changes recommended by the committee, resubmit the revised
document by December 15th, and reballot entire chapter.

Chapter 5 - Admixtures for Flowing Concrete (Bognacki): Chapter 5 received 12-

Affirmative, 3-Affirmative with Editorial Comments, and 2-Negative votes (Roberts and
Wojakowski).

Section 5.1 Rewrite paragraph as: “ASTM C-1017 defines flowing concrete as “concrete
that is characterized as having a slump greater than 190 mm (7-1/2 in.) while maintaining
a cohesive nature….”. With the proper use of high-range water reducers, we can
produce concrete can be produced that has a slump so high that it can’t be measured
with the conventional slump cone test. Flowing concrete should be obtained through the
use of a plasticizing admixture, and the uniform combined well-graded aggregate
gradation and/or a viscosity modifier may be required as needed. The uniform combined
Well-graded aggregates gradation will usually produce a cohesive workable concrete
mix, because adding water only would result in an extremely low quality mix. Flowing
concrete at low cement and water content should be obtained through the use of a
plasticizing admixture,. However, Depending on travel time, temperature, and mix, the
3
concrete may need to be redosed with the plasticizer on the job site, because adding
water only would result in extremely low-quality concrete. The admixtures ……”

Section 5.4, last paragraph: By a 12 affirmative and 1 negative vote, the committee
agreed to strike this entire paragraph, “Using plasticizing admixtures to increase slump
from 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 in.) to 187.5 – 250 mm (7.5 to 10 in.) ……… reducing the
concrete durability.”

Section 5.6.1” Change to: “5.6.1 Setting time – ASTM C-1017 Type I admixtures are
required to have negligible effect on initial and final setting times (maximum acceleration
of 1 hour and maximum retardation of 1.5 hours). Therefore, flowing concrete will usually
sets as quickly similarly as to concrete without the admixture, but with the same water
content. This is true ao long as the dosages ae similar to those used in ASTM
certification testing. Care should be taken to avoid over dosing of the admixture to
compensate for problems, as this can lead to excessive retardation. At increased
concrete mixture temperatures, the setting time of concrete containing the Type I
admixture is decreased. A Type II admixture can …….”

Section 5.6.4, fourth and fifth sentence:Rewrite to: “Every plasticizer cannot Not every
admixture can be redosed, care should be taken when redosing with ASTM C1017 Type
II or ASTM C494 Type F admixtures. Non-retarding plasticizers can be redosed several
times. In general, …..”

Section 5.7.3: Add new last sentence: “Excessively high slumps with a low paste
viscosity may lead to air instability.”

Section 5.8.2: By a vote of 10 affirmative to 3 negative, the committee agreed to strike

the sentence, “The water content of the plastic concrete can be determined on-site with
the AASHTO T-318 Microwave Test.” A rewrite of this section was recommended. Ken
Rear will provide the rewrite to the chapter chair prior to December 15th.

Based on these changes, Roberts and Wojakowski withdraw their negative votes.

Action: Make the changes recommended by the committee, resubmit the revised
document by December 15th, and reballot section 5.8.2 only.

Chapter 6 - Admixtures for Self-Consolidating Concrete (Roberts): Chapter 6

received 13-Affirmative, 4-Affirmative with Editorial Comments, and 0-Negative votes.
The chapter was approved with editorial comments.

Action: Make the editorial changes recommended by the committee.

Chapter 7: Cold Weather Admixture Systems (Korhonen): Chapter 7 received 14-

Affirmative, 2-Affirmative with Editorial Comments, and 1-Negative votes (Wojakowski).
Wojakowski’s negative vote was withdrawn prior to the meeting. The chapter was
approved with editorial comments.

Action: Make the editorial changes recommended by the committee.

4
 Chapter 10 - Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures (Bedard): Chapter 10 received 12-
Affirmative, 2-Affirmative with Editorial Comments, and 3-Negative votes (Phelan,
Roberts and Violetta). Extensive recommended changes were submitted in writing by
the negative voters.

Action: Consider the changes recommended by the negative voters, resubmit the revised
document by December 15th, and reballot the entire chapter.

Committee Action on Remaining Chapters:

Chapter 8 - Admixtures for Very High-Early Strength (Winters): Bruce Christensen is

unable to author this chapter due to other corporate commitments. Rusty Winters (Sika)
volunteered to chair this chapter.

Action: Submit the chapter by December 15th for initial ballot.

Chapter 9 - Admixtures for Recycled Water(Eller):

Action: No activity. Chairman Phelan will follow-up.

Chapter 11 - Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures (Wojakowski): This chapter is nearly

ready for ballot. The committee suggested that migrating corrosion inhibitors be included
in the chapter. Violetta will invite Cortec to submit information to Wojakowski by
th
December 6 .

Action: Consider any information submitted on migrating corrosion inhibitors and submit
the chapter by December 15th for initial ballot.

Chapter 12: Lithium Admixtures to Reduce Alkali Aggregate Reactive Expansion

(Stokes): This chapter was previously balloted and approved pending editorial changes.

Figure 1: The committee recommended including “positive: fly ash data, C verses F ash
data, and lithium/fly ash combinations.

Section 12.4: Add comments on the potential down side of under-dosing admixture.

Section 12.7: Add new section on “Applications”.

Action: Consider committee suggestions and add new section on “Applications”, submit
the chapter by December 15th , and ballot new section on “Applications” only.

Chapter 13: Permeability Reducing Admixtures (K. Yuers): This chapter was balloted
previously, but not approved.

Section 3.2: It was suggested that materials used for concrete coatings are not
applicable here and this list should only address materials for admixtures.

General: There was significant discussion on the difference between PRAN’s and
PRAH’s. The committee suggested clarification in the document.

5
 Action: Recommendations made during the committee meeting and through the initial
ballot will be considered, resubmit the revised document by December 15th, and reballot
entire chapter.

Chapter 14 - Miscellaneous Admixtures (Strickland): First draft has been completed.

Action: Submit the chapter by December 15th for initial ballot.

Chapter 15 - References

5. Old Business: None

6. New Business: None

7. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Brad Violetta
Secretary, ACI 212