CHEMICAL AND MINERAL ADMIXTURES
SYLLABUS
Accelerators – Retarders - Plasticizers - Super plasticizers - Water proofers - Mineral
Admixtures like Fly Ash, Silica Fume, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and
Metakaoline - Effects on concrete properties.
2.1 ADMIXTURES
Admixtures are ingredients other than cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate
to improve the quality of concrete. The addition of an admixture may improve the
concrete with respect to its strength, hardness, workability, water resisting power etc.
Needs of Admixtures
• To modify properties of fresh and hardened concrete.
• To ensure the quality of concrete during the mixing, transporting, placing, and
curing.
• To overcome certain unexpected emergencies during concrete operations by using
admixtures and etc…
• To reduce the cost of concrete construction.
• To achieve certain properties in concrete more effectively than by other means.
• To maintain the quality of concrete during the stages of mixing, transporting,
placing, and curing in ad-verse weather conditions.
• To overcome certain emergencies during concreting operations.
Types of Admixture
Concrete admixtures are generally divided into 2 types
1. Chemical admixture
2. Mineral admixture
Chemical Admixtures
Chemicals mixed with concrete ingredients and spread throughout the body of
concrete to favourably modify the molding and setting properties of concrete mix known
as chemical admixtures.
Chemicals added to the concrete immediately or during mixing to modify its
properties in the fresh hardened state.
Types:
Accelerators – speed up the initial set of concrete.
Retarders – delay the setting time of concrete mix.
Plasticizers and Super-plasticizers - water reducers.
Air entraining admixtures
Waterproofers Pigments
Corrosion - inhibiters
Chemicals Anti-fungal admixtures
2.1.1 Accelerators
Accelerating admixtures are added to concrete to increase the rate of early strength
development in concrete to
Permit earlier removal of formwork;
Reduce the required period of curing;
Advance the time that a structure can be placed in service;
Partially compensate for the retarding effect of low temperature during cold
weather concreting;
In the emergency repair work.
Commonly used materials as an accelerator:
• Calcium chloride (Not used now)
• Some of the soluble carbonates
• Silicates fluosilicates (Expensive)
• Some of the organic compounds such as triethenolamine (Expensive)
In the past one of the commonly used materials as an accelerator was calcium
chloride. But, now a days it is not used. Instead, some of the soluble carbonates, silicates
fluosilicates and some of the organic compounds such as triethenolamine are used.
Accelerators such as fluosilicates and triethenolamine are comparatively
expensive. The recent studies have shown that calcium chloride is harmful for reinforced
concrete and prestressed concrete. It may be used for plain cement concrete in
comparatively high dose.
Some of the accelerators produced these days are so powerful that it is possible to
make the cement set into stone hard in a matter of five minutes are less. With the
availability of such powerful accelerator, the underwater concreting has become easy.
Similarly, the repair work that would be carried out to the waterfront structures in the
region of tidal variations has become easy. The use of such powerful accelerators have
facilitated, the basement waterproofing operations. In the field of prefabrication also it
has become an invaluable material. As these materials could be used up to 10°C, they
find an unquestionable use in cold weather concreting.
Some of the modern commercial accelerating materials are Mc-Schnell OC, Mc-
Schnell SDS, Mc-Torkrethilfe BE, manufactured by Mc-Bauchemic (Ind) Pvt. Ltd.
MC-Torkrethilfe BE is a material specially formulated to meet the demand for efficient
and multifold properties desired for sprayed concrete and shotcreting operations. A field
trial is essential to determine the dose for a given job and temperature conditions when
the above materials are used.
Accelerating Plasticizers:
Certain ingredients are added to accelerate the strength development of concrete
to plasticizers or superplasticizers. Such accelerating superplasticizers, when added to
concrete result in faster development of strength. The accelerating materials added to
plasticizers or superplasticizers are triethenolamine chlorides, calcium nitrite, nitrates
and flousilicates etc. The accelerating plasticizers or accelerating super plasticizers
manufactured by well-known companies are chloride free.
Advantages / Effects of accelerator on concrete properties:
Reduced bleeding,
Earlier finishing
Improved protection against early exposure to freezing and thawing,
Earlier use of structure
Reduction of protection time to achieve a given quality,
Early removal of form, and early load application.
Increases the rate of gain of strength.
Enables earlier release from precast moulds thus speeding production.
Reduces segregation and increase density and compressive strength.
Cures concrete faster and therefore uniform curing in winter and summer can be
achieved.
Early use of concrete floors by accelerating the setting of concrete.
Reduces water requirements, bleeding, shrinkage and time required for initial set.
