Civil Engineering Materials (CE216): Lecture 11

Concrete Admixtures

By

Dr. RAMU BAADIGA

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IITP)

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

There are several admixtures available, some important ones are discussed below.

Plasticizers

Plasticizers are based on the following constituents:

(i) Anionic surfactants such as lignosulphonates and their modifications.
(ii) Non-ionic surfactants, such as polyglycol acid of hydroxylated carboxylic acids and their modifications.
(iii) Others such as carbohydrates.
Among the plasticizers, calcium, sodium and ammonium lignosulphonates are mostly used. The quantities used are 0.1–
0.4 % by weight of cement.

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

There are several admixtures available, some important ones are discussed below.

Superplasticizers

Superplasticizers constitute a relatively new and improved form of plasticizers. These are chemically different from
conventional plasticizers

Superplasticizers permit reduction of water up to 30% without reduction in workability

Superplasticizers are used for the production of flowing, self-levelling, self-compacting, high-strength and high-
performance concrete

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

There are several admixtures available, some important ones are discussed below.

Superplasticizers

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Retarders

A retarder is an admixture that slows the process of hydration because of which the concrete remains plastic and workable

Calcium sulphate is the commonly used retarder. Other admixtures used as retarders are lignosulphonic acids and their
salts, hydroxylated carboxylic acid and their salts. These admixtures increase the compressive strength by 10 to 20%.

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Retarders

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Accelerators

Accelerators are another very useful type of admixture which is added to get early strength.
The various purposes are:
1. Early removal of formwork
2. Reduction of period of curing
3. Putting the structure early to use
4. Accelerating the setting time during cold weather
5. Energy repair work

Soluble carbonates, silicates, fluosilicates and some organic compounds are used.

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Accelerators

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Air-entraining Admixture

Air-entrained concrete is made by using air-entraining cement or by adding an air-entraining agent

Air-entraining agents produce a large quantity of air bubbles which act as flexible ball bearings and modify the properties
of concrete regarding workability, segregation, bleeding and the finishing quality of concrete

Natural wood resins, animal and vegetable fats, various wetting agents (such as alkali salts), water-soluble soaps of resin
acids, etc., are various air-entrained agents used.

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Air-entraining Admixture

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Pozzolanic Admixtures
The proper addition of pozzolanic admixtures to cement enhances many qualities of concrete, such as

• lowering the heat of hydration,

• increasing the water tightness,
• Reducing the alkali–aggregation reaction,
• resisting sulfate attack,
• improving workability, etc.

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Pozzolanic Admixtures
Siliceous materials and aluminous materials do not possess any cementitious materials. But on reacting
with cement and moisture, they chemically react with calcium hydroxide liberated on hydration and form
compounds possessing cementitious properties. This reaction is called as pozzolanic reaction.

Naturally available pozzolanic materials are clay and shale, diatomaceous earth, volcanic tuffs, and pumicites

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Pozzolanic Admixtures

agro-waste of palm oil

Kanamarlapudi et al. (2020) 13

Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures

Two important properties that concrete should possess with reference to water are:
(i) To resist seepage when subjected to the pressure of water and
(ii) To protect the absorption of surface water by capillary action. Some damp-proofing admixture may prove to be of
some advantage in reducing the permeability.

Silicate of soda, aluminium and zinc sulphates, and aluminium and calcium chloride

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Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures: Issues

Moisture entrapped during Construction

Dampness rising in a wall junction Dampness rising in a wall junction Rain Water Penetration

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 15
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures

Application of hot bitumen with brush Application of mastic asphalt on roof

Mastic asphalt is a bituminous design mix containing ingredients

bitumen, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate and filler material.
Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 16
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures

Cement mortar with waterproofing agents used in wall

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 17
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures

Metal sheet provided on wall

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 18
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Damp-proofing Admixtures

Black polythene sheet used for waterproofing

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 19
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Membrane damp proofing

• Surface treatment
• Integral damp proofing treatment
• Cavity walls construction
• Guniting
• Pressure grouting

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 20
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Membrane damp proofing

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 21
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Surface treatment

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 22
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Integral damp proofing treatment

Concrete mix with water proofing compounds

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 23
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Cavity walls construction

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 24
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Guniting

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 25
Concrete chemicals and admixtures
Admixtures

An admixture is defined as “a material other than water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and fiber reinforcement, used
as an ingredient of a cementitious mixture to modify its freshly mixed, setting, or hardened properties and that is added to
the batch before or during its mixing” (American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 212, 2010)

Methods of Damp Proofing

• Pressure grouting

Source: https://thedesignbridge.in/ 26
References

Kanamarlapudi, L., Jonalagadda, K. B., Jagarapu, D. C. K., & Eluru, A. (2020). Different mineral admixtures in
concrete: a review. SN Applied Sciences, 2(4). doi:10.1007/s42452-020-2533-6

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