1.

4 Concrete Admixtures
Concrete admixtures are liquids or powders which are added to the con-
crete during mixing in small quantities, normally based on the cement
content. They influence the properties of the fresh and/or hardened con-
crete chemically and/or physically.
According to EN 206-1, concrete admixtures are defined and the require-
ments are described in EN 934-2. The standard includes the following un-
der “Special Terms” (slightly abbreviated):
Admixtures – definitions and effects
쐽 Water reducer
Enables the water content of a given concrete mix to be reduced without
affecting the consistence, or increases the workability without changing
the water content, or achieves both effects.
쐽 Superplasticizer
Enables the water content of a given concrete mix to be greatly reduced
without affecting the consistence, or greatly increases the workability
without changing the water content, or achieves both effects.
쐽 Stabilizer
Reduces mixing water bleeding in the fresh concrete.
쐽 Air entrainer
Introduces a specific quantity of small, evenly distributed air voids during
the mixing process which remain in the concrete after it hardens.
쐽 Set accelerator
Reduces the time to initial set, with an increase in initial strength.
쐽 Hardening accelerator
Accelerates the initial strength with or without an effect on the setting
time.
쐽 Retarder
Retards the time to initial set and prolongs the consistence.
쐽 Waterproofer
Reduces the capillary water absorption of the hardened concrete.
쐽 Retarder/water reducer
Has the combined effects of a water reducer (main effect) and a retarder
(additional effect).
쐽 Retarder/superplasticizer
Has the combined effects of a superplasticizer (main effect) and a retarder
(additional effect).
쐽 Set accelerator/water reducer
Has the combined effects of a water reducer (main effect) and a set ac-
celerator (additional effect).
Other product groups such as shrinkage reducers and corrosion inhibitors
etc. are not (yet) covered by EN 934-2.

12 1. Concrete Constituents
 Dosage of admixtures to EN 206-1:

Permitted dosage 울 5 % by weight of the cement

(The effect of a higher dosage on the performance
and durability of the concrete must be verified.)
Low dosages Admixture quantities < 0.2 % of the cement are
only allowed if they are dissolved in part of the
mixing water.

If the total quantity of liquid admixture is > 3 l/m³ of concrete, the water
quantity contained in it must be included in the water/cement ratio calcu-
lation.
If more than one admixture is added, their compatibility must be verified
by specific testing.
The effects and uses of the admixtures listed above (and others) are dis-
cussed in detail in the following chapters.

1.5 Concrete Additives

Concrete additives are fine materials which are generally added to con-
crete in significant proportions (around 5–20 %). They are used to im-
prove or obtain specific fresh and/or hardened concrete properties.
EN 206-1 lists 2 types of inorganic concrete additive:
Type I
Virtually inactive materials such as lime fillers, quartz dust and colour pig-
ments.
쐽 Pigments
Pigmented metal oxides (mainly iron oxides) are used to colour concrete.
They are added at levels of 0.5–5 % of the cement weight; they must re-
main colour-fast and stable in the alkaline cement environment. With
some types of pigment the water requirement of the mix can increase.
쐽 Rock flours (quartz dust, powdered limestone)
Low fines mixes can be improved by adding rock flours. These inert ma-
terials are used to improve the grading curve. The water requirement is
higher, particularly with powdered limestone.

1. Concrete Constituents 13
 Technical data for rock flours (to DIN 4226-1)

Product
Rock flours
Parameter Quartz flour Limestone flour Unit
Density (specific gravity)1 2650 2600–2700 kg/m³
Specific surface 욷 1000 욷 3500 cm²/kg
Bulk density, loose* 1 1300–1500 1000–1300 kg/m³
Loss on ignition 0.2 앑40 %
* This factor has to be taken into account for the filling capacity of silos,
etc.
1
Current experience
Type II
Pozzolanic or latent hydraulic materials such as natural pozzolans (trass),
fly ash and silica dust.
Fly ash is a fine ash from coal-fired power stations which is used as an
additive for both cement and concrete. Its composition depends mainly on
the type of coal and its origin and the burning conditions.
Silica dust (Silicafume) consists of mainly spherical particles of amor-
phous silicon dioxide from the production of silicon and silicon alloys. It
has a specific surface of 18–25 m² per gram and is a highly reactive poz-
zolan.
Standard dosages of silica dust are 5 % to 10 % max. of the cement
weight.
Cement/pozzolans comparison table

Product
Cements Industrial pozzolans
CEM I CEM II
Parameter 42.5* A-LL 32.5 R* Fly ashes Silica flour Unit
Density (specific gravity) 앑 3100
1
앑 3000 2200–2600 앑 2200 kg/m³
Specific surface 앑 3000 앑 4000 3000–5500 180 000–250 000 cm²/kg
Bulk density, loose** 1 앑 1200 앑 1100 1000–1100 300–600 kg/m³
Loss on ignition 2.4 6.9 울5 울3 %
SiO2 content 40–55 up to 98 %
* Data from randomly selected common cements to EN 197-1
** This factor has to be taken into account for the filling capacity of silos, etc.
1
Current experience for pozzolans

14 1. Concrete Constituents
1.6 Finest Grain
The finest grain content consists of:
쐽 the cement
쐽 the 0 to 0.125 mm granulometric percentage of the aggregate
쐽 and any concrete additive(s)
The finest grain acts as a lubricant in the fresh concrete to improve the
workability and water retentivity. The risk of mixture separation during in-
stallation is reduced and compaction is made easier.
However, finest grain contents which are too high produce doughy, tacky
concrete. There can also be a greater shrinkage and creep tendency
(higher water content).
The following quantities have proved best:

Round aggregate Crushed aggregate

For concrete with a Finest grain content Finest grain content
maximum particle size between 350 and 400 kg/m³ between 375 and 425 kg/m³
of 32 mm
For concrete with a Finest grain content Finest grain content
maximum particle size between 400 and 450 kg/m³ between 425 and 475 kg/m³
of 16 mm
Higher finest grain contents are usual for self-compacting concretes
(SCC).

1. Concrete Constituents 15
 1.7 Mixing Water
The suitability of water for concrete production depends on its origin.
EN 1008 lists the following types:
쐽 Drinking water
Suitable for concrete. Does not need to be tested.
쐽 Water recovered from processes in the concrete industry
(e.g. wash water)
Generally suitable for concrete but the requirements in annex A of the
standard must be met (e.g. that the additional weight of solids in the
concrete occurring when water recovered from processes in the con-
crete industry is used must be less than 1 % of the total weight of the
aggregate contained in the mix).
쐽 Ground water
May be suitable for concrete but must be checked.
쐽 Natural surface water and industrial process water
May be suitable for concrete but must be checked.
쐽 Sea water or brackish water
May be used for non-reinforced concrete but is not suitable for rein-
forced or prestressed concrete.
The maximum permitted chloride content in the concrete must be ob-
served for concrete with steel reinforcement or embedded metal
parts.
쐽 Waste water
Not suitable for concrete.
Combined water is a mixture of water recovered from processes in the
concrete industry and water from a different source. The requirements for
the combined water types apply.
Preliminary tests (EN 1008, Table 1)
The water must first be analysed for traces of oil and grease, foaming
(detergents!!), suspended substances, odour (e.g. no odour of hydrogen
sulphide after adding hydrochloric acid), acid content (pH 욷 4) and humic
substances.
Water which does not meet one or more of the requirements in Table 1
may only be used if it meets the following chemical specifications and its
use does not have negative consequences for the setting time and
strength development (see EN 1008 for test methods).

16 1. Concrete Constituents
Chemical properties
쐽 Chlorides
The chloride content of the water must not exceed the levels in the table
below:

End use Maximum

chloride
content in mg/l
Prestressed concrete or grouting mortar 500
Concrete with reinforcement or embedded metal parts 1000
Concrete without reinforcement or embedded metal
parts 4500
쐽 Sulphur
The sulphur content of the water must not be more than 2000 mg/l.
쐽 Alkalis
If alkali-sensitive aggregates are used in the concrete, the alkali content
of the water must be tested. The alkali content (Na2O equivalent) must
normally not exceed 1500 mg/l. If this level is exceeded, the water may
only be used if it can be proved that measures have been taken to prevent
harmful alkali-silicate reactions.
쐽 Harmful pollutants
Quality tests for sugars, phosphates, nitrates, lead and zinc must first be
carried out. If the results are positive, either the content of the material
concerned must be determined or setting time and compressive strength
tests must be carried out.
Chemical analyses limits:

Material Maximum content in mg/l

Sugars 100
Phosphates, expressed as P2O5 100
Nitrates, expressed as NO3 500
Lead, expressed as Pb2+ 100
Zinc, expressed as Zn2+ 100
쐽 Setting time and strength
The initial set, tested on specimens with the water, must not be less than
1 h and must not differ by more than 25 % from the initial set obtained on
specimens with distilled or deionized water. The completion of setting
must not be more than 12 h and must not differ by more than 25 % from
the completion of setting obtained on specimens with distilled or deion-
ized water.
The average compressive strength after 7 days of specimens produced
with the water must reach at least 90 % of the compressive strength of
the corresponding specimens produced with distilled or deionized water.

1. Concrete Constituents 17
 1.8 Material Volume Calculation
The purpose of the material volume calculation is to determine the con-
crete volume from the volume of the raw materials by calculation. The
material volume means the volume of the individual concrete compo-
nents. The calculation assumes that the designed quantities of cement,
water, aggregate, admixtures and additives mixed for 1 m³ of fresh con-
crete, plus the voids after compaction, just add up to a volume of 1 m³.
Calculation volumes and mass for 1 m³ of concrete

Raw material Dosage Needs Spec. density Yields

used for designed in % kg for 1 m³ in kg/l litre for 1 m³
concrete (according to
mix design)
Cement 3.15
Kind: kg (check locally)
Additional binder
Kind: kg
Additive Silicafume
(additional binder) kg 2.2
(check locally)
Admixture 1
Kind: kg
Admixture 2
Kind: kg
Air expected or planned
1 % = 10 l in 1 m³ % –
Mixing water
w/c (or w/b) = kg 1.0
(including water content
aggregates)
Total volume in litres without aggregates and sand
Aggregates and sand kg 2.65
(in dry state) (check locally) (= D for 1000 l)

Total concrete kg kg/l 1000 l

(for 1 m³) (spec. density of (= 1 m³)
fresh concrete)
= way of calculation
Remark: If total amount of admixture(s) exceeds 3 litres/m³ of concrete, water content of
admixture(s) has to be included in calculation of water/cement ratio.

18 1. Concrete Constituents