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Effects of antiwashout admixtures on fresh concrete properties

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 ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL
Title no. 92-M18
Effects of Antiwashout Admixtures on Fresh Concrete
Properties
by Kamal Henri Khayat
Most antiwashout admixtures are water-soluble polymers that modify the
rheological properties offresh concrete. Such admixtures have been incor-
porated into concrete intended for underwater placements and repairs, and
implemented in production of extremely workable and flowing concrete.
They have also been used to enhance resistance to sagging of shotcrete and
produce bleed-free cement grouts for filling post-tensioning ducts.
This paper presents results from a study aimed at better understanding of
the effects of antiwashout admixtures on concrete properties. It will high-
light benefits and limitations of employing such admixtures in concrete.
Fresh properties of low-, medium-, and high-strength concretes made using
two types of antiwashout admixtures, a microbial polysaccharide and cel-
lulose derivative, were evaluated. Fresh properties are compared with
those of similar concretes made without antiwashout admixtures. Among
the parameters evaluated are fluidity, bleeding, water dilution, segregation,
setting time, and air content.
Test results show that incorporation of an antiwashout admixture can
greatly reduce external bleeding and significantly enhance resistance of
concrete to water dilution and segregation. However, there is a significant
increase in water demand, and a high-range water-reducing admixture
(HRWRA) is needed to maintain a desired level of fluidity without excess
addition of water. The combined additions of an antiwashout admixture
and HRWRA delay setting time, especially at high concentrations of
HRWRA. Viscous concretes containing antiwashout admixtures show a
greater demand for air-entraining admixture. However, once enough air is
entrained, proper air-void parameters needed to insure good freeze-thaw
resistance can be obtained.
Keywords: admixtures; air entrainment; bleeding (concrete); repairs;
segregation; setting (hardening); underwater construction; viscosity;
water.
Ramachandran 1 categorized pumping aids and
anti washout admixtures (A WA) into five classes according
to their physical actions in concrete. These classifications are
as follows:
Class A-Water-soluble synthetic and natural organic
polymers that increase viscosity of the mixing water. Class
A type materials include cellulose-ethers, polyethylene ox-
ides, etc.
Class B-Organic water-soluble flocculants that become
adsorbed onto cement grains and increase viscosity due to
enhanced interparticle attraction between cement grains.
164
TECHNICAL PAPER
Class B materials include styrene copolymers with carboxyl
groups, synthetic polyelectrolytes, and natural gums.
Class C-Emulsions of various organic materials that en-
hance interparticle attraction and supply additional super-
fine particles in the cement paste. Among the materials be-
longing to Class C are acrylic emulsions and aqueous clay
dispersions.
Class D-Water-swellable inorganic materials of high-
surface area that increase the water-retaining capacity of the
paste, such as bentonites, silica fume, and milled asbestos.
Class E-Inorganic materials of highcsurface area that in-
crease the content of fine particles in paste, such as fly ash,
hydrated lime, and diatomaceous earth.
Kawai 2 classified water-soluble polymers as follows:
1. Natural polymers that include starch, natural gums, and
plant protein.
2. Semisynthetic polymers that include decomposed starch
and its derivatives; cellulose-ether derivatives, such as hy-
droxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl cellu-
lose (HEC), and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC); as well as
electrolytes, such as sodium alginate.
3. Synthetic polymers including those based on ethylene,
such as polyethylene oxide; and those based on vinyl, such
as polyvinyl alcohol.
Anti washout admixtures commonly used in concrete con-
struction are cellulose derivatives and polysaccharides of
microbial sources, such as welan gum. Acylic-based poly-
mers, such as partial hydrolysis products of a polyacryla-
mide copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate, are also
employed. This latter type of AW A contains acrylamide as
its main component. Cellulose derivatives often contain non-
ionic cellulose ether as the principal component, in which
different materials are used. The various water-soluble poly-
ACJ Materials Journal, V. 92, No.2, March-April 1995.
Received May 24, 1993, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copy-
right © 1995, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the making
of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent dis-
cussion will be published in the January-February 1996 ACJ Materials Journal if
received by Oct. I, 1995.
ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995
ACI member Kamal Henri Khayat is an assistant professor of civil engineerinR at the
Universite de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Montreal, Canada. He holds undergraduate and
graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests
include high-performance and underwater repairs. He is a member of RILEM Com-
mittee TC ll5 on high-strength concrete and TRB Committee A2E05 on chemical
additions and admixtures for concrete.
mers form viscous solutions that bind some of the mixing
water in fresh concrete, thus enhancing plastic viscosity and
yield value of the paste.
The mode of action of an AWA depends on the type and
concentration of the polymer in use. Welan gum and cellu-
lose derivatives are believed to increase the viscosity of mix-
ing water, since long-chain polymer molecules adhere to the
periphery of water molecules, thus adsorbing and fixing part
of the water and thereby expanding. Moreover, molecules in
adjacent polymer chains can intertwine and develop attrac-
tive forces, thus further blocking the motion of water and
causing it to gel and display increased viscosity. 3 In ordinary
aqueous solutions, acrylic-based admixtures develop electri-
cal repulsion between the molecules, thereby causing their
expansion and increasing viscosity. However, in concrete,
where a high concentration of various salts exists, it is be-
lieved that such electrical repulsion decreases, and the mode
of action can then approach that of nonionic polymers, such
as cellulosic AWA. 3
Depending on concentration of an A WA, polymer chains
in the concrete can entangle or associate, resulting in an in-
crease in apparent viscosity at low rates of shear. With in-
crease in shear rate induced by pumping, casting, or
consolidation of the AW A concrete, the entangled chains
can disaggregate and align in the direction of the flow. The
apparent viscosity can then decrease (shear thinning), with
improvement in flowability and spreadability of the con-
crete.
Incorporation of an AWA enhances cohesiveness and re-
duces risk of separation of concrete constituents. This is ad-
vantageous in cement grouts used to fill post-tensioned
ducts, where varying hydraulic pressures between the grout
and air voids between the various tendons and strands can
lead to separation of some of the water from the grout. The
pressurized bleed water can be forced into tight gaps be-
tween the tendons and strands that may be too small for ce-
ment grains to penetrate. Water can then move upward by
capillary action and become deposited further up in post-ten-
sioning ducts.
Since part of the mixing water is used to hydrate the AWA,
an AW A concrete can be sticky and viscous. A water-
reducing admixture or HRWRA is needed to decrease the
yield value and improve self-leveling without increasing the
water-cement ratio (w/c). Even in the presence of such
admixtures, the flow of the viscous concrete proceeds at a
slower rate than that of a non-AWA concrete of comparable
slump. Such a viscous flow is desirable in underwater
placements, since reduction in velocity at the water-concrete
interface can decrease mixing of water with fresh concrete,
thereby limiting discharge of suspended cement and fines to
surrounding water. This improvement in washout resistance
can significantly enhance in situ quality of underwater-cast
concrete. 2 -9
ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995
Cellulose derivatives are often used in conjunction with
melamine-based HRWRA because of their incompatibilities
with naphthalene-based HRWRA. 2 •7 •9 •10 Kawai and Okada 10
reported that use of HPMC in an aqueous solution with a pH
of 13 and naphthalene-based HRWRA causes the formation
of a gel resulting from a chemical reaction between the two
admixtures. The sharp increase in viscosity was especially
high in solutions containing HPMC and naphthalene-based
HRWRA at concentrations greater than 0.8 and 1 percent, re-
spectively, by mass of water. Unlike mixes made with
melamine-based HRWRA, slump flow values (diameter of
concrete at the conclusion of a slump test) of concretes con-
taining I and 1.8 percent HPMC were shown to be slightly
affected by addition of a napthalene-based HRWRA. 10 Use
of a polyalkylaryl sulfonate water-reducing admixture in
aqueous solutions with a cellulosic AWA was also found to
cause some incompatibility and lead to an abnormal increase
in viscosity. 11 Studies carried out on welan gum showed no
apparent incompatibility with either melamine-based or
naphthalene-based HRWRA for typically used dosages of
AWAandHRWRA. 9
Several cellulose derivatives, such as HPMC and HEC,
and synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene oxide, can en-
trap large volumes of air that can reach 15 percent in some
cases. Therefore, deaerating agents should be employed to
expel the extra air. 2 Welan gum has not been found to entrap
large quantities of air. 8
The objective of this study is to investigate some of the ef-
fects of two major types of AWA on important characteris-
tics of low-, medium-, and high-strength concretes. Data
reported in this paper deal with effects of AWA on fresh con-
crete properties, such as washout resistance, bleeding, segre-
gation, setting time, and air content. Other parameters
affected by addition of AWA (porosity, strength, stiffness,
frost and scaling resistance, drying shrinkage, and imperme-
ability) will be presented in future publications.
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Insufficient information exists regarding benefits and lim-
itations of incorporating AWA in concrete. Properties of
AW A concretes made with various w!c reported in this paper
are intended to provide guidance to engineers considering
use of AWA concretes. Among new applications where such
admixtures can be beneficial are high-performance concretes
for underwater placement and repairs, and extremely work-
able concretes that can flow readily into place with minimum
segregation. Such viscosity-modifiers can also be used to
produce highly cohesive and pumpable concretes for wet-
mix shotcreting and fluid concretes that can develop high
bond strengths with horizontal reinforcing bars located near
the top of deep structural beams and walls.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Materials and mix proportions
An ASTM C 150 Type II portland cement was used.
Chemical and physical properties of the cement are summa-
rized in Table 1. Well-graded river-bed sand and natural
gravel with a nominal size of I 0 mm were employed. The
sand and gravel had fineness moduli of 3.1 and 5·.9, respec-
165
 Table 1-Chemical and physical properties of cement
Percentage
Chemical analysis Physical analysis
by mass
Si0 2 22.04 Percent passing 45jl m 88

o
Al 2 3 3.97 Blaine, m 2!kg 351
Fe 20 3 3.29 Vical, initial, min 101
CaO 63.53 Final, min 188
MgO 2.42
so3 2.40 Compressive strength, MPa
K 20 0.51 1 day 9.5
Na20 0.25 3 days 18.3
Na20 equivalent 0.59 7 days 25.6
FreeCaO 0.54 28 days 38.0
LOI* 0.99
Compound composition
c3s 52.9
C 2S 23.3
C 3A 5.0
C 4 AF 10.0
*Loss on tgmtwn.

10000 100000
6:' .tJ-. Welan gum (0.35% waler weight)
E.
·•~ HPMC (1.00% water weight)
~ 1000 a:- 10000
~ E.
1ii ~
.,
~
'iii 100 .,·;;8 1000
§
·;; 1:
10 ;
..8:
1:
I!!
<
0.
0.
100

<
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0. 7 0.6 0.9 1.0 10
0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0
Polymer concentration (% water weight)
Shear rate (1/sec)

Fig. 1-Variations of apparent viscosity of aqueous solu- Fig. 2- Variations of apparent viscosity of aqueous solu-
tions with various A WA concentrations tions with shear rates for typical A WA concentrations

tively. Their bulk specific gravities were 2.64 and 2.68, and
their absorptions were 1.5 and 1.3 percent, respectively. A
hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and welan gum
were used for the A W A. The latter is a high molecular-
weight polysaccharide produced by a fermentation process.
Both products were used in powder forms. Fig. 1 compares
increase of viscosity at low rates of shear (0.1 sec- 1) resulting
from addition of HPMC and welan gum in deionized water
solutions containing 0.01 Molar NaCl at 20 C. As shown, ad-
dition of small concentrations of welan gum are especially
effective in increasing viscosity. Fig. 2 shows shear thinning
behavior of aqueous solutions with welan gum and HPMC.
The selected polymer dosages, expressed as percentages of
water by mass, are similar to those used in the low- and me-
dium-strength concretes evaluated here (Table 2). Solutions
with welan gum had high viscosities at low rates of shear,
which dropped significantly with increase in shear rate. Sim-
ilar behavior was observed with solutions containing high
dosages of HPMC.
A naphthalene-sulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate
was used as HRWRA in concretes with welan gum and those
made without any AW A. A melamine-sulfonic acid formal-
dehyde condensate HRWRA was used in concretes incorpo-
rating HPMC. Both had approximate solid contents of 40
percent. A deaerating agent was employed to reduce the
amount of entrapped air caused by the HPMC.
Three classes of concretes were evaluated. They consisted
of three low-strength mixes with w!c of 0.60, three medium-
strength concretes with w!c of 0.45, and three high-strength
concretes with w/c of 0.30 (Table 2). The LOW-1, MED-1,
and HIGH -1 concretes were control mixes without A W A.
The LOW-2, MED-2, and HIGH-2 concretes incorporated
welan gum dispersed with the HRWRA prior to addition to
concrete. Finally, the LOW-3, MED-3, and HIGH-3 con-
cretes used HPMC for the AW A, dispersed with part of the
cement before mixing it in concrete to prevent lumping.
Concentration of A W A was varied to achieve washout
losses less than 3 percent in mass. Dosage of HRWRA was
also adjusted to obtain approximate initial slump values of
180 mm. All concretes were prepared in batches of 50 L and
mixed in an open-pan mixer. The mixing procedure adopted
consisted of charging the sand and gravel, along with a third
of the mixing water. Cement was then added and followed
by another third of the mixing water. For non-AWA con-

166 ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995

 Table 2-Mixture proportions
Aggregate, kg/m3 Admixtures
Cement, HRWRA Deaerat. AWA
wlc
kglm3
Sand Gravel Percent Percent Percent Percent
Um 3 cement cement Type cement water

LOW-I 335 0.60 918 928 1.5 0.22

LOW-2 335 0.60 917 927 3.9 0.58 Welan 0.20 0.33
gum
LOW-3 335 0.60 914 924 3.9 0.58 0.40 HPMC 0.66 1.10
MED-1 418 0.45 809 1000 2.8 0.33
MED-2 418 0.45 807 998 5.5 0.65 Welan 0.15 0.33
gum
MED-3 418 0.45 806 996 5.5 0.65 0.20 HPMC 0.50 1.11
HIGH-I 475 0.30 654 1229 9.3 0.97
HIGH-2 475 0.30 653 1225 13.0 1.36 Welan 0.06 0.20
gum
HIGH-3 475 0.30 653 1225 13.0 1.36 0.15 HPMC 0.10 0.33

cretes, the HRWRA was diluted with the remaining mixing
water and added last to the mixer. For HPMC concretes, all
of the HRWRA was introduced with the last portion of mix-
ing water. This was then followed by the powder deaerating
admixture diluted with cement, 1 to 20 by mass. The HPMC
was dispersed with part of the cement (1 to 4 by mass) and
added last to the concrete. For concretes with welan gum,
gum was dispersed into the HRWRA and introduced last to
the mixer. Following addition of all ingredients, the con-
cretes were mixed for 3 min, followed by 3 min of rest. Con-
cretes were remixed for 3 additional min.
To evaluate effect of A W A on segregation resistance, two
medium-strength concretes were prepared with 360 kg/m3 of
cement and w!c of 0.50. One mix incorporated welan gum
added as 0.07 percent of cement mass. Its HRWRA content
was adjusted to obtain highly fluid mixes with slump values
of 210 to 220 mm. An identical concrete with similar slump
was prepared without any A W A.
To determine effect of A W A on air volume and demand of
air-entraining admixture (AEA), three widely used AEA
conforming to ASTM C 260 12 were used. AEA are com-
posed of synthetic detergent, vinsol resin, and organic salts
of sulfonated hydrocarbon. Each AEA was added at different
dosages to a concrete with w!c of 0.45 and cement content of
360 kg/m3 . Welan gum was employed for the A WA and add-
ed as 0.10 percent of cement mass. A naphthalene-based
HRWRA was employed, and its dosage was adjusted to ob-
tain high initial slump values of 210 ± 10 mm. Crushed lime-
stone aggregate with a nominal maximum particle size of
13.2 mm and siliceous sand with a fineness modulus of 2.5
were used.
The concretes were prepared in batches of 20 L. Gravel,
sand, and approximately 50 percent of the water were mixed
before addition of more water. The HRWRA was diluted in
the second part of the water for non-AW A concretes. For
concrete with welan gum, only 25 percent of the HRWRA
was mixed with the second part of the water, and the remain-
ing HRWRA was used to disperse the A W A before adding it
to concrete. The AEA was diluted with approximately 1 per-
cent of the mixing water and introduced last to concrete.
Once all ingredients were incorporated, the concrete was
mixed for 3 min. After a 3-min rest period, the concrete was
remixed for 2 min.
Test methods
Slump flow was used to evaluate ease of spreading of non-
consolidated concrete. Because of the high viscosity of an
· A W A concrete, measurements of slump and slump flow
were delayed for 1 min following removal of the cone to al-
low enough time for flow to take place. Washout resistance
was evaluated in accordance with CRD C 61, 13 where loss in
mass of a sample measuring 2.0 ± 0.2 kg placed in a perfo-
rated basket and dropped three times in 1. 7 m of water was
determined. Susceptibility of concrete to bleeding was ex-
amined according to ASTM C 232, 12 where external bleed
water was collected at set intervals until no more water could
be removed. Setting time was determined using the Proctor
penetration test (ASTM C 403 12) on mortar sieved from
freshly mixed concrete and maintained at 23 ± 2 C.
Concretes used to evaluate the effect of A W A on segrega-
tion resistance were cast in columns measuring 200 x 300 x
500·mm in two lifts. Each lift was consolidated for 60 sec on
a vibrating table. Hardened columns were sawn along their
lengths, and relative areas of coarse aggregates greater than
5 mm were determined at various heights.
The air contents in fresh concretes used to evaluate effect
of A W A on air content and demand of AEA were measured
using a pressure meter (ASTM C 231). 12 Cylinders measur-
ing 100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length were cast to
determine the air-void system of the hardened concrete, in
accordance with ASTM C 457. 12 Specimens were cut longi-
tudinally to obtain plates measuring 100 x 200 x 25 mm,
which were ground with successively finer abrasives and
prepared for microscopical examination.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fluidity and bleeding
Table 3 shows the measured unit mass and air contents of
fresh concretes, as well as slump and slump flow values.
These were approximately 185 ± 15 mm and 330 ±50 mm,
respectively. Concretes with either welan gu:rp. or HPMC
were viscous and exhibited continuous deformation 'Yith
time due to gravity following removal of the slump cone.

ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995 167

Table 3-Fresh concrete properties so

Initial
•,
.,.... ._..•.0.07% gum
Unit
weight,
Air
volume,
Slump
Total
bleeding, I 40
O%gum
•,. .....
• ;. :
weighted average
O%gum
kg!m 3 percent Slump, mm mL!cm2
1/:~
E

LOW-I 2359 L5 180

flow,mm
280 0.087
1 so \"-: .
LOW-2 2315 2.7 170 280 0
E
_g 20
'•.t :
..,:-~ S. 210- 220 mm
weighted average ~ : ....._•
LOW-3
MED-1
MED-2
2311
2382
2335
3.3
L3
2.9
200
180
170
355
280
280
0
0.058
0
j 10 I
,..
0.07% gum ........-.....: : \.

.
I A
"·~..
'·........._....__
-......
.......'•
MED-3 2332 3A 190 330 0
45 50 55 60
20 25 30 35 40
HIGH-I 2448 L5 180 355 0
Surface of coarse aggregate I concrete (%)
HIGH-2 2438 L9 190 380 0
HIGH-3 2441 3.0 170 320 0
Fig. 4-Effect of external vibration on segregation of con-
crete

10
l pended cement, and fines when the concrete is cast in water.
"'"'
.2
"'::1
E
:;
0
.z=
~ upon casting in water.
Fig. 3-Cumulative washout mass losses after three drops
in water
In general, it i.s desirable to minimize bleeding in concrete
to obtain uniform concrete with greater mechanical proper-
ties and impermeability. As Table 3 shows, regardless of the
presence of AWA, no high-strength concrete experienced
bleeding. Low- and medium-strength mixes made without
AWA exhibited bleeding, but incorporation of either welan
gum or HPMC eliminated bleeding. Increase in AW A con-
centration enhances the degree of water retentivity and re-
duces bleeding. For example, a concrete similar to the LOW-
2 mix but with 0.07 percent welan gum had four times more
bleeding than the LOW-2 mix with 0.20 percent gum con-
centration.
Because of elimination of external bleeding, concretes
with AWA show increased susceptibility to plastic shrinkage
cracking, especially at high evaporation rates (fast wind, low
humidity, and elevated temperatures). Therefore, special
care should be taken to provide proper curing and reduce the
rate of evaporation near exposed casting surfaces.
Washout resistance
Fig. 3 illustrates cumulative washout losses in mass of the
nine evaluated concretes. Despite similar slump and slump
flow values, concretes with AWA had considerably lower
washout losses in mass than their corresponding control mix-
es. For example, for the medium-strength concrete, addition
of welan gum as 0.15 percent of cement mass reduced the cu-
mulative mass loss from 9 to 0.5 percent (MED-1 and MED-
2). Similarly, addition of HPMC at 0.50 percent decreased
washout mass loss to 0.7 percent (MED-3).
Improved resistance to water dilution of concretes with
AWA is due in part to the ability of the polymer to retain
some of the mixing water. This reduces water outflow, sus-
Some of the AW A molecules become adsorbed onto cement
grains along with water, and intertwine with adjacent mole-
cules. The resulting bridge structure links some adjacent ce-
ment particles and decreases their outflow from concrete
Improvement of washout resistance is advantageous in un-
derwater placements, where high strength, durability, bond-
ing to reinforcing steel, and adjacent concrete surfaces are
required. 9 Problems resulting from a plugged placement de-
vice due to loss of fines at the water-concrete interface dur-
ing startup of placement and segregation and formation of an
aggregate plug can be avoided. Incorporation of an AW A
can reduce the amount of cement diluted in water surround-
ing an underwater casting area. Therefore, the impact of
washed out fines on increasing turbidity and pH of the water
can be reduced. 5 •11
Resistance to segregation
Resistance to segregation of two highly fluid medium-
strength concretes caused by excessive vibration is presented
in Fig. 4. Results show that incorporation of an AW A signif-
icantly reduces segregation and deviation from the 35 per-
cent theoretical value calculated from the volume portion of
coarse aggregate in the two mixes. The weighted averages of
coarse aggregate to concrete surfaces of mixes containing 0
and 0.07 percent welan gum were approximately 37 and 35
percent, respectively. After 60 sec of external vibration, ar-
eas of coarse aggregate to concrete for non-AW A concrete
were approximately 24 and 57 percent near the top and bot-
tom of the column, respectively. These values were approx-
imately 30 and 42 percent, respectively, for the mix
containing 0.07 percent welan gum. This improvement in
segregation resistance is due to increased viscosity and yield
value of the aqueous phase effected by AW A, resulting in
enhanced cohesiveness of concrete.
Setting time
Sogo5 reported that, for mortars made with w!c of 0.55, ad-
dition of a cellulose ether-based AWA delays setting time.
Increase in AWA dosage from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 3 kg/m 3
was shown to delay initial setting by approximately 1.5 and

168 ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995

 .:- 5000 0 5000 6 • 0
•
! 4500
i l 1i'
.e 4500
r Final set
I
~
~
~
4000
3500
Final &et

j1/ 3c::
~
4000

3500

!
If
3000
~

1I
3000
c 2500 c:: 2500 + CeH (0.85% AWA + 1.2% - - )

1 i. 1
I. j~
2000 ·o- CeH • AWA (no AWA, 1.2% - - )
2000
1500 • een • SUPER (0.85% AWA. no - - 1
c
& 1000 Initial set _j 0
. . MED-1 (No AWA, o.33%)
..,.. MED-2 (0.15% gum, 0.85%)
& 1500

!/ 1 ·6- Cell • SUPER - AWA (no AWA. no •--)

..~L
I ~e
1000
500 Initial set
0
O::::o-•':-fril
. . MEII-3 (0.50% HPMC, 0.85%)
500
.. I ~
/ ..:•'
Q.
0 80 180 270 380 450 540 630 720 810 800 0
Elapsed time (min) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 17 18

Elapsed time (h)

Fig. 7-Sti.ffening of mixes with cellulose derivative and
Fig. 5-Sti.ffening of medium strength mortars HRWRA 9

13
12 G- Synthetic atergent
5000 _L
'i •._ LOW-1 (No AWA, 0.22%)
~ II .... Vinsol re1ln
.9: 4500
..,_ LOW-2 (0.20% gum, 0.58%1
X
.1..
.. 10 •6- SuHonotod hydrocol'bon
~ 4000
~ 9
lL ~

~ 3500
8 8
/
_L .L
~
c
8000

2500
I 7 1 1/
__,.
//
! 2000 .5 5
/./ ~
~
c:: 1500 ~ 4
& 1: 3
,.,......... IL .! L:.
1000 8 2 ......
I
Q.
500

0 80 810 800
~

2 3 4
Elapsed time (min) Dosage of AEA (mUkg of osment)
Fig. 8-Air content offresh concrete for various types of
Fig. 6-Sti.ffening of low- and high-strength mortars AEA

2.5 hr, respectively. Fig. 5 and 6 show development in stiff-
ening of mortars obtained from wet-sieving various con-
cretes. Concentrations of AW A and HRWRA, expressed as
percents of cement mass, are indicated on these figures.
Low-strength concretes with either type of AW A had identi-
cal concentrations, but different kinds, of HRWRA. They re-
sulted in approximately IOO min of delay in initial setting
compared to the LOW-I mix. The LOW-2 concrete with
welan gum had a greater delay in final setting than the
HPMC mix (LOW-3). The LOW-I, LOW-2, and LOW-3
mixes exhibited differences between final and initial setting
times of approximately IIO, 185, and 115 min, respectively.
Medium-strength concretes with similar concentrations of
HRWRA had similar delays in initial setting (80 min) com-
pared to the MED-1 mix. Delay in final setting compared to
control concrete was 90 and 150 min for the HPMC and gum
concretes, respectively. Approximate spreads between initial
and final setting times were 95, 165, and 105 min forMED-
1, MED-2, and MED-3 mixes, respectively.
For high-strength concretes, the gum mix exhibited a
greater delay in initial setting compared to the HPMC mix.
The latter concrete had a delay of approximately 120 min in
both initial and final setting times compared to the control
mix (HIGH-1). These delays were approximately 400 min
for the gum concrete.
Regardless of wlc, concretes with HPMC and HRWRA
exhibited some delays in initial setting compared to control
mixes (1 00 ± 20 min). Similar retardations were obtained for
the low- and medium-strength concretes with welan gum.
However, when the gum was used in high-strength concrete
with a high dosage of HRWRA (HIGH-2), an excessive de-
lay in setting was observed compared to the HIGH-1 and
HIGH-3 mixes. Greater delays in setting times of gum con-
cretes compared to HPMC concretes may in part be due to
the type of HRWRA used.
To investigate the effect of each AW A and HRWRA on
setting time, a complementary set of experiments was
carried out with four concretes made with various types of
AW A, including welan gum and cellulose derivatives. 9
Typical results showing the influence of a cellulosic AW A,
HRWRA, and combination of both are shown in Fig. 7. The
Cell Mix contained a cellulose derivative and an HRWRA.
The Cell-SUPER, Cell-AWA, and Cell-SUPER-AWA
concretes were identical to the Cell Mix except for omission
of HRWRA, AWA, and both HRWRA and AWA,
respectively. In general, retardation in stiffening of the mix
containing both HRWRA and AW A was greater than that of
the combined delay caused by each admixture. Results
suggest that the high concentration of HRWRA required in
concretes with an AW A is predominantly responsible for the
long delay in stiffening (Cell-AW A). This could be due to
the dispersing action of the HRWRA or to its adsorption onto
cement grains that can retard initial cement hydration. Use of
AWAin the absence ofHRWRA slightly delays setting time
(1 hr). It is possible that AWA molecules become initially
adsorbed onto cement grains, in particularly C 3A and alite.

ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995 169

 Table 4-Mix proportions and properties of optomized concretes

Mixture, type of AEA T-4 T-8 T-12

synthetic detergent Sulfonated hydrocarbon Vinsol resin

Cement, kg/m 3 363 363 362

Water, kg/m 3 163 163 163

Sand, kg/m 3 752 751 750

Gravel, kg/m 3 1039 1039 1037

AEA, mL/kg of cement 1.76 4.53 2.01
AEA,mL!m 3 635 1632 724
Welan gum, percent of 0.10, 0.36 0.10, 0.36 0.10, 0.36
cement, kg/m3
HRWRA,Lim 3 7.1 7.1 7.0
Slump, mm 205 225 220
Unit weight, kg/m3 2323 2323 2319
Air content, percent
Fresh concrete 6.0 5.5 5.9
Hardened concrete 3.3 3.2 4.7
Specific surface, mm· 1 25.2 13.2 27.9
Spacing factor, Jlm 250 470 185

700 void systems. On the other hand, despite adequate air content
in fresh concrete, the T -8 concrete did not have a favorable
100
air-void system. The evaluated synthetic detergent-based
e
..:;
500
AEA was judged to be more effective in entraining air and
securing a proper air-void system in AW A concretes than the
j 400

300
go
-~
c.
(/)
100
0.00 0.05 0.10
Dosage of gum (% of cement weight)
Fig. 9-Effect ofwelan gum concentration on air content
and spacing factor of hardened concrete
Such adsorption can interfere with the rate of diffusion of
ions from these compounds into pore solutions, which can
reduce initial formation of hydration products and thus delay
stiffening.
Air entrainment
Whenever an AW A is incorporated into a concrete ex-
posed during its service life to freeze-thaw cycles, it is essen-
tial to entrain air in the concrete. The type of AEA selected
should be effective, compatible with cement and other ad-
mixtures, and stable. It should secure a proper air-void sys-
tem consisting of small air bubbles that are well distributed
and closely spaced. A specific volume value (a) greater
than 20 mrn2/mm3 and spacing factor (L) less than or equal
to 230 11m are generally required.
Fig. 8 shows variations in air contents of 12 concretes
made with 0.1 percent welan gum and different dosage rates
of commonly used AEA. For each type of AEA, a concrete
with an approximate air volume of 6 percent in the fresh state
was sampled to measure the air-void systems. Mix propor-
tions and air-void systems of these concretes are presented in
Table 4. Results show that concretes made with synthetic de-
tergent and vinsol resin (T-4 and T-12) developed proper air-
other two types of AEA.
The effect of incorporating an AW A and HRWRA in the
air-void system was also evaluated by adding various con-
centrations of welan gum to a concrete with a low dosage of
the synthetic detergent-based AEA. Concretes similar to the
0.15
T -4 Mix were used, and the concentration of gum was varied
from 0 to 0.15 percent of cement weight. HRWRA contents
were adjusted to yield initial slump values of 200 to 240 mm
in AWA concretes.
As Fig. 9 shows, two concentrations of AEA were used.
The first was 0.35 mL/kg of cement, which was necessary to
secure an adequate L in non-A WA concrete. With such a
low dosage of AEA, addition of 0.05 and 0.10 percent of
welan gum resulted in very low air volumes and high L val-
ues. When AEA dosage was increased to 1.25 mL/kg, the
concentration needed to obtain a proper air-void system in a
concrete containing 0.05 percent gum, the drop in air volume
and increase in L were significantly reduced with further ad-
ditions of AW A.
Demand of AEA required to maintain 7 ± 1 percent air
volume in fresh concrete was determined for concretes sim-
ilar to the T-4 mix, prepared with different contents of welan
gum and HRWRA. Dosage of HRWRA was adjusted to
maintain initial slump value of210 ± 10 mrn. Required dos-
age of AEA increased sharply with that of AWA (Fig. 10).
For example, this increase was approximately 3.5 times
when the gum content was varied from 0 to 0.05 percent.
Increase in gum content increases the amount of water that
can be associated with the polymer. As a result, less free wa-
ter is available to the AEA, and greater additions of AEA are
needed with increasing AW A contents. Another factor that
may cause greater demand for AEA in AW A concretes is in-

170 ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995

 2.5
~ Such concrete requires greater concentrations of air-entrain-
r8 2.0
·- • D I.Jm', air •
0
~ 1.5
.5.
<
w 1.0
<
0 CONVERSION FACTORS
• 0.5
i ~- • l.lm', oir •
8 1~
3 7%
0.0 I 2.2lb
o.oo 0.05 0.10 0.15
Dosage of gum(% of cement weight)
Fig. 10-Effect of dosage ofwelan gum on demand of AEA
in highly fluid concretes
creased viscosity of mixing water, which increases surface
tension of the water and therefore the air pressure within air
bubbles. 14 This increase in internal pressure increases the
solubility of air in the aqueous solution surrounding the bub-
bles, thus reducing the diameter of the bubbles until some
disappear completely. Some of the dissolved air can then en-
ter the larger voids where the pressure is less. However,large
bubbles are less stable than smaller ones and can be more
readily lost to the atmosphere, with a net reduction in air con-
tent. Increase in viscosity can also increase internal pressure
in fresh concrete, which can lead to a collapse of large air
bubbles and further loss of air.
It is important to note that increase in AW A content is ac-
companied by greater demand for HRWRA needed to main-
tain a given level of fluidity. Increased demand for ABA in
concretes with AW A may be due in part to HRWRA reduc-
ing the sites on cement particles where air bubbles can be at-
tached. With such reduction in sites onto cement grains, it is
possible that some of the bubbles become less stable and co-
alesce, thus necessitating greater additions of AEA. Further
research is needed to ascertain rheology or chemical reasons
for increased demand for ABA in AW A concretes.
SUMMARY
Antiwashout admixtures can greatly enhance resistances
of fluid low-, medium-, and high-strength concretes to water
dilution and enhance in situ mechanical properties. Incorpo-
ration of an AW A can eliminate external bleeding and re-
duce risk of segregation and sedimentation. A more uniform
quality concrete can then be secured, with improvements in
mechanical properties. Reduced separation of concrete con-
stituents is especially advantageous when casting deep lifts
using highly fluid concretes. An increase in concrete viscos-
ity can reduce separation of water from the paste, thus facil-
itating more effective pumping.
Use of an AW A reduces the amount of free water available
for lubrication of concrete; therefore, an HRWRA should be
incorporated. Concrete with AW A and HRWRA exhibited
ACI Materials Journal I March-April 1995
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delayed setting time, especially at high HRWRA contents.
5.11%
ing admixtures. Air-void parameters needed to secure good
frost durability for concrete exposed during service life to
freeze-thaw cycles can be attained .
mm 0.039jn.
lL 61 in.
(tp- 32)/1.8
0.20 1 kg/m§ 1.685 lb/yd3
1 MPa - 145 psi
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