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CONCRETE ADMIXTURES
DEFINITION: CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS,ADDED TO
CONCRETE MIX IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR DURING
MIXING TO MODIFY ONE OR MORE OF THE
SPECIIFC PROPERTIES OF CONCRTE IN FRESH OR
HARDENED STATE.
FUNCTIONS:
ACCLERATE INITIAL SET OF CONCRETE
RETARD INITIAL SET OF CONCRETE
ENHANCE THE WORKABILITY / FLOWABILITY /
PUMPABILITY OF CONCRETE.
REDUCE SEGREGATION IN GROUT AND IN CONCRETE
MIXTURE.



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INCREASE STRENGTH BY
REDUCING WATER CONTENT
INCREASE DURABILITY BY
INCREASING RESISTANCE TO
DIFFERENT EXPOSURE CONDITION.
IMPROVE IMPERMEABILITY.
INHIBIT CORROSION OF
REINFORCEMENT
REDUCE HEAT OF HYDRATION
IMPROVE BOND BETWEEN OLD
AND NEW CONCRETE SURFACES
Cont
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CLASSIFICATION OF ADMIXTURES

A) GENERAL PURPOSE ADMIXTURES

1. ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES

2. RETARDING ADMIXTURES

3. AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES

4. WATER- REDUCING ADMIXTURES
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B) SPECIAL CATEGORY ADMIXTURES

1. GROUTING ADMIXTURES

2. AIR DETRAINING ADMIXTURES

3. GAS FORMING ADMIXTURES

4. CORROSION INHIBITING ADMIXTURES

5. SHRINKAGR REDUCING ADMIXTURES

6. PERMEABILITY REDUCING ADMIXTURES

7. BONDING ADMIXTURES

8. SURFACE HARDENING ADMIXTURES

9. COLOURING ADMIXTURES

10. FUNGICIDAL,GERMICIDAL AND INSECTICIDAL
ADMIXTURES

Cont
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PURPOSE:
a) TO INCREASE RATE OF HYDRATION AND HENCE RATE OF
DEVELOPMENT OF STRENGTH
HELPS ----------
1) EARLY REMOVAL OF FORM WORK
2) REDUCTION IN CURING PERIOD
3) EARLY PLACEMENT OF STRUCTURE IN SERVICE
4) CONCRETE TO BE PLACED AT LOW TEMPERATURES
b) TO SHOTEN SETTING TIME
HELPS ----------
1) EARLY FINISHING OF SURFACE
2) REDUCTION OF PRESSURE ON FORMS
3) EFFECTIVE PLUGGING OF LEAKS AGAINST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE
APPLICATIONS
1. UNDER WATER CONCRETING
2. BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
3. REPAIRS OF WATERFRONT STRUCTURES IN TIDAL ZONES




1. ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES

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o RAPID DISSOLUTION OF C
3
S IN WATER -- RAPID HYDRATION
o AVAILABLE IN FLAKES - ( 77 % CaCl2 )
o FUSED FORM - ( 92 % CaCl2 )
o DOSAGE
o AS PER IS 7861(Part II) 1981 = 1.5% (IN PRACTICE UP TO 2 %):
o TEMP = BELOW 25
O
C FOR EFFECTIVE USE
o LARGE DOSE = FLASH SET
o 2 % DOSE REDUCES SETTING TIME BY 33 % AND
RAISES THE 7 DAY STRENGTH BY 3- 8 MP
a
FLEXURAL STR INCREASES BY 40-80 % OF 1 DAY STR
AND 12 % OF 28 DAY STR
DOSAGE SELECTION DEPENDS ON
1.TYPE OF CEMENT
2.TEMPERATURE OF CONCRETE
3.AMBIENT TEMPT

CaCl2 MOST WIDELY USED ACCLERATOR
MECHANISM

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QUICK SET = SETS WITHIN SECONDS
DOSE = NOT GREATER THAN 0.2 % BY
MASS OF CEMENT
OTHER EXAMPLES
NaCl Na
2
SO
4
K
2
SO
4
KOH
Na OH
Na
2
CO
3


NOT TO USED IF
1.IN PRESTRESSED CONCRTE: HAS
SOLUBLE CHLORIDES AND
POSSIBILITY OF STRESS COROSION
SUBJECTED TO ALKALI - AGGRGATE
REACTION,
EXPOSED TO SOIL , WATER
CONTAINING SULPHATES
TEMPT GREATER THAN 25
0
C(2%
DOSE CAUSES ACCELERATION OF
HYDRATION AND RISE IN TEMPT OF
ABOUT 11
0
C)
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RETARDERS
SLOWS DOWN THE INITIAL RATE OF HYDRATION
PROLONGS SETTING OF CEMENT PASTE IN CONCRETE,OFFSTS ACCLERATING
AND DAMAGING EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPT
KEEPS CONCRETE WORKABLE DURING T/ P # USE IN RMC
SUCEEDING LIFTS CAN BE PLACED WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT OF COLD
JOINTS/ DISCONTINUITIES IN STR UNIT
FIXING EXPOSED AGGREGATES TO HAVEARCHITECTURAL FINISH(REMOVE
FORMWORKAND BRUSH OFF CEMENTEXPOSED AGGREGATES.
ACTION
DELAYS SETTING BY FORMING THIN COATING
SLOWS DOWN DISSOLUTION IN AND REACTION WITH
WATER
INCREASES INTRAMOLECULAR DISTANCE OF
REACTING SILICATES AND ALUMINATES FROM WATER
MOLECULES BY FORMING TRANSIENT COMPOUNDS IN
THE SYSTEM
FINALLY ADM ARE INCORPORATED INTO HYDRATED
MATERIAL.
CEMENT

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Ex: 1. SOLUBLE CASRBOHYDRATE DERIVATIVES:
SUGAR
SOLUBLE STARCH
DEXTRIN
2.INORGANIC RETARDERS
HYDROXIDE OF ZINC AND LEAD
ALKALI BI-CARBONATES
CALCIUM BORATE
HYDROXYLATED CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DOSAGE :
0.05 To 0.1 % BY MASS OF CEMENT
# 0.05 % OF SUGAR DELAYS SETTING BY 4 Hr
WARNING
MAY PROMOTE BLEEDING.
HOLDS BACK HYDRATION PROCESS, LEAVING MORE WATER FOR
WORKABILITY AND ALLOWING CONCRETE TO BE FINISHED & PROTECTED
BEFORE DRYING OUT.
SOME RETARDERS ALSO REDUCES WATER REQUIREMENT # LESS W/C RATIO
DO NOT AFFECT 1.FINAL SETTING TIME OF CEMENT
2.STR AT 28 DAYS
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CAUTION:
CORRECT DOSE IS MUST
STORY
CEMENT BAGS USED FOR SHIPMENT OF AGGTREGATE SAMPLES TO
LABORATORY.
MOLASSES BAGS WERE USED FOR TRANSPORT OF FRESHLY MIXED
CONCRETE .
GAVE CONFLICTING RESULTS.
Retarder Content
0.2%
0.4%
0.8%
0.6%
Initial setting Time.(Hr)
T
e
m
p
t

o
c

0%
Smaller effect at high Tempt
35
25
30
20
10
15
10 20
30
40
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AIR ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES:
Controlled amt of air in the form of non coalescing bubbles.
without affecting setting / hardening
Helps: Improves workability/Durability
Easy placing/finishing
Better resistance to Frost Action
Reduction in Bleeding and Segregation.
used for : Cellular /Light weight Concrete.
Chemistry:
Anionic surfactants, which are adsorbed onto the cement particles,
forming a sheath of limited solubility.
Bubbles are formed on agitation, Which stabilizes as microscopic
spheres. (Dia 0.05- 0.25mm and 0.003 mm apart)










Entrained Air Entrapped Air
Intentionally incorporated
in the form of minute
spherical bubbles
Voids occurring in concrete due to
insufficient or poor compaction.
Improves Durability and
Plasticity
Reduces Strength
Can be of any shape and size
Non uniform distribution, Size large
(0.01 1.0 mm or more), Reduces
strength and Durability
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Each 1% increase in Air Content ,reduces strength by 1.4 MPa
However:
Reduction in W/C ratio and Sand Content for Given Workability
Compensates loss of Strength.
The Beneficial Amt of entrained Air depends on

Type and Quantity of air entraining agent.

W/C ratio of mix
Type /Grading /Max size of aggregates
Mixing time

Extent of compaction of concrete.

Tempt and type of cement.
OPTIMAL AIR CONTENT
Max Size , mm % By volume
Natural optimal
10 3 8+- 1.5
20 2 7+-1.5
30 1 4.5+-1.5
COMPOUNDS
i) Natural wood Resins.
ii) Sulphonated Compounds
iii) Animal and Vegetable fats
iv) Oils Olive oil and their
acids (Stearic and Oleic
acids)
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Factors Affecting Air Content:

1. W/C ratio:
Low: No adequate foaming Action.
0.4-0.6 : Abundant Air Bubbles.
High: Abundant, However many are lost
progressively with time.
2. Entrained air content increases with mixing time up to certain
limit, then gets reduced

3. Entrained air content decreases with increase in tempt of
concrete.

4. Vibration for compaction 2.5 min loss of bubbles 50 %
10 min loss of bubbles 80 %

5. Use of Calcium Chloride: has tendency to limit Air
entrainment.
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CEMENT/FLY ASH/SILICA FUME/RICE HUSK
ASH/STONE DUST+ WATER = FLOCULATES
INCREASES VISCOSITY BY ENTRAPPING PART OF
WATER AND PHYSICALLY RESISTING THE FLOW
ADD MORE WATER BUT NOT BEYOUND CERTAIN
POINT
Hence
ADD WATER REDUCER TO DISPERSE OR
DEFLOCULATE THE SYSTEM.
THE ORGANIC/INORGANIC(COMBINATION)
SUBSTANCES TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJCTIVES ARE
PLASICIZING ADMIXTURES
WATER REDUCING ADMIXTURES:
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HIGHER FLOWABILITY
FASTER RATE OF CONCRETE PLACEMENT
EASY PLACEMENT IN POORLY ACCESSIBLE
LOCATIONS WITHOUT VIBRATION
TRUE SHUTTER FINISH
REDUCTION IN CEMENT CONTENT
INCRESED STRENGTH / DENSITY / DURABILITY /
STABILITY/ ABRASION RESISTANCE DUE TO
REDUCTION IN WATER
Benefits:
Benefits will depend upon:
1.Type of Cement 2.W/C ratio
3.Mixing Tempt 4.Ambient Tempt
5.Job Condition
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Mechanism of Plasticizers:
1.Dispersion:
1.Avoids flocculation: as plasticizers get adsorbed on
cement particles, which creates repulsive force
between particles., overcoming attractive forces.
(Gives negative charge.)
Repulsive Force= Zeta Potential.
Cement particles are deflocculated and dispersed.
water trapped inside the flocks gets released and
becomes available to fluidify the mix.
Also
1.Inter flock and inter particle friction is reduced.
2.More surface area of cement particle for hydration.
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2. Retarding effect :
Plasticizers form thin sheath around cement
particle , which inhibits hydration as long as
sufficient plasticizer molecules are available at
particle solution interface.
The sheath also prevents close approach of
particle to one another , Therefore the
mobility
The quantity of available plasticizers
progressively decreases as polymers gets
entrapped in hydration product.
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Classification:
Adm reducing water requirements by > 5 % = Water Reducers (WR)
/ Plasticizers

1. Normal WR = (5 to 10 %) CaSO
4
/ Sugar

2. Mid Range WR = (10 to 15 %)
reduces setting time by 2-4 Hrs
e.g. i) When Cement is < 350 Kg/m3 ( 0.1 To 0.5 % of mass
of cement)
Lignosulphonic acids and their salts. (Ca / Na/NH4 salts)
ii) When Cement is > 350 Kg/m3 ( 0.1 To 0.2 % of
mass of cement)
Hydroxylated carboxylic acids and their salts
iii) Processed carboxylates

3. High Range WR = (20 to 40 %) *(Super Plasticizers)
effect lasts only for 30 to 60 min
followed by rapid loss of workability (Add at job sites only)
Used for HPC with low w/c ratio (up to 25 %) and Water
reduction up to (30-40 %)

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Classification of Super plasticizers:
Cat A: Sulphonated melamine Formaldehyde Condensates
(SMF) or Poly melamine Sulphonates (PMS) {Sulphonated
Super Plasticizers }
Molecular Weight : 20 000
eg : Sodium Salts : Easily soluble in water ; Do not interfere
with hydration of cement ; very littlie effect on set at
high dosage; Dosage up to 3% by mass of cement.
rapid loss of workability : set time accelerates by 30-40
min over normal mix of equal workability.
Mix will be more prone to segregation and bleeding hence
higher sand content is desired.use min vibration.
Used for low tempt concreting where high early str is
required.
Workability may fall to 70 mm slump in less than 15 min
at 40
o
C Therefore add at job sites.

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Cat B: Sulphonated Nepthalene -
Formaldehyde Condensates (SNF) or Poly
B- Nepthalene Sulphonates
Molecular Wt @ 2000:
Significant effect on surface tension ;
therefore use with defoaming materials.
Eg Sodium salts ; Gives slightly greater level
of set retardation (20-40 min) and air
entrainment than Cat A.
Retains workability for longer period therefore
dosage at RMC. Prior to Trucking to the site.
High sand content is desirable.
Effective for Precast Concrete.
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Cat C: Modified Lignosulphates (MLS)
Naturally accuring macromolecular organic compound
Crude lignosulphates: Waste liquid product obtained
during process of production of paper making pulp,
from wood.
Refined by removing sugar and undesirable imurities,
which causes excessive set.
Molecular Wt varies from 100-100000
Creates workability retention therefore very effective
at high ambient tempt/ long trucking.
Mix may become over cohesive therefore prevents
water reducing potential of adm from being realised
therefore sand content of the mix can be reduced by
3 to 5 %.
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Cat D : Carboxylated Acrylic
Ester Co- Polymers (CAEC)
It overcomes placement drawbacks.
Acrylic Polymers are active ingredients
of this category of Superplasticizers.
Comparatively Expensive.

*Higher the Molecular Mass Higher the Efficiency.*
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Site Problems in the use of
Superplasticizers.
No information on slump of ref (without
plasticizer) mix.Zero slump can not be
improved.
Inefficient lab mixers for premix trials(use of
pan mixer is suggested)
Use of crusher dust (Dust interferes with
plasticized properties of mix.
Compatibility with Cement.
Selection of proper plasticizer/super
plasticizer
Proper Dosage.
Slump Loss. Contd
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Contd

Slump Loss with time is bound to be existing; Therefore,
Maintain intial slump level.
Use retarders (at RMC Plant) and apply dose at discharging
point.
Use retarding plasticizers / Superplasticizers.
Apply repetitive dose.
Dose at Final Points.
Keep tempt low.(reards Hydration)
AIR CONTENT:
May decrease with addition of SNF/SMF for air entrained
concretes.
It can increase with MLS based Adm.
SEGREGATION AND BLEEDING:
IF APPLIED IN EXCESS BEYOUND SATURATION POINT CEMENT
PASTE BECOMES TOO FLUID.
COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMMS:
Compatibilty with cement is a must therefore go for
marsh Cone Test and determine optimum dosage.
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As per ASTMC- 49492
Only Water Reducers Type A
WR + Retarders Type D
WR + Acclerators Type E
Super plasticizers Type F
Super plasticizers + Retarders Type G
General
Classification:
Dosage:
1 to 3 lit / m3;
5 to 20 lit / m3 if used as water reducing adm.
Time :
Immediately after cement + water comes in contact (within 20
sec)
In repeated dosage 2-3 tims before being delivered at site.

Normally retains workability upto 60-120 min
For use of Super plasticizers
Design mix for hardened physical properties and then
add sufficient super plasticizers to achieve required
workability
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