4 Chemical Admixtures

Chemical Admixtures
Definition (ASTM C 125): a material other than water,

aggregate, hydraulic cement, and fiber reinforcement that is
used as an ingredient of concrete or mortar and is added to
the batch immediately before or during its mixing.
Classification
Plasticizing admixtures ( ASTM C 494 and C 1017) are
water-soluble polymers designed to enhance workability
or to reduce water requirements for a desired workability
Set-controlling admixtures (ASTM C 494) - are added to
control setting and to induce early hardening
Air-entraining agents (ASTM C 260) are added primarily
to improve resistance to freezing/thawing cycling
Miscellaneous admixtures
E.g. Viscosity modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, shrinkage
reducing admixtures, etc.

Precautions: (1) conform to standards; (2) test using job
materials under job-site conditions; (3) ensure accurate batching
(Mindess et al 2003)
Water-Reducing admixtures (plasticizers)
Increase slump without increase water and cement contents
to facilitate difficult placements
Achieve desired slump with less water (lower w/c)
improve strength, impermeability, and durability
Achieve desired slump with lower cement content without
changing w/c
Economic reason: reduce cost
Technical reason: reduce heat
Classification of water reducers
Type
Type A* water reducing admixture (WRA)
Type B - retarding
Type C - accelerating
Type D water reducing and retarding
Type E - water reducing and accelerating
Type F high range water reducing (superplasticizer, SP)
Type G high range water reducing and retarding

* In general, Type A WRA
| the rate of aluminate hydration (risk of flash set)
+ the rate of C
3
S hydration (slowing strength gain).

Constituent Materials for Concrete Admixtures
APPLICATIONS OF PLASTICISING ADMIXTURE
CONTROL MIX
w/c = x
f
cu
= y
Slump = z
MIX A Plasticising
w/c = x
f
cu
= y
Slump > z
MIX B Water-reducing
w/c < x
f
cu
> y
Slump = z
MIX C Cement saving
w/c = x
f
cu
= y
Slump = z
(+WRA) (+WRA), (Water)

(+WRA)
(Water)
(Cement)
Increase workability by
simple addition of
admixture
Reduce water content with
addition of admixture
Reduce water content and cement content with addition of admixture

Efficiency of Admixtures

Varied by concentration (solid content) and between brands
(nominal water-reduction admixtures: 1G-10%, 2G-20%, 3G-30%)

Effectiveness varies with different cements:
(a) cement fineness
(b) equivalent alkali content (%Na
2
O

+

0.658%K
2
O)
(c) C
3
A content
(Effectiveness reduced when any one of above factors in the cement increases)

Effectiveness lowered by increase in concrete temperature

Specification for Admixtures EN 934-1 to EN 934-6

Euro Approach
CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES
Testing based on Standard Mortar and
Standard Concrete
(NOT ACTUAL CONCRETE ON SITE)
It is likely that admixtures will be
produced under certification
Admixtures Standards Specification
BS EN 934-1: 2008, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Part 1:
Common requirements
Concrete admixtures Definitions, requirements, conformity,
marking and labelling
SS EN 934-2: 2008 (National Foreword provides guidance on testing for
Singapore)*
Admixtures for masonry mortar Definitions, requirements,
conformity, marking and labelling
Admixtures for grout for prestressing tendons Definitions,
requirements, conformity, marking and labelling
SS EN 934-4: 2008 (National Foreword provides guidance on testing for
Singapore)*
Admixtures for sprayed concrete Definitions, requirements,
conformity, marking and labelling
Sampling, conformity control, and evaluation of conformity
(Amendment 1, March 2006)

* Temperature for testing at 27
O
C (in place of 20
O
C in EN for temperate climate)
REPLACING
BS 5075: Parts 1 to 3 on Admixtures

Admixtures Standards Testing

BS EN 480-1:2006, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Test methods
Part 1: Reference concrete and reference mortar for testing
Part 2: Determination of setting time
Part 4: Determination of bleeding of concrete
Part 5: Determination of capillary absorption
Part 6: Infrared analysis
Part 8: Determination of conventional dry material content
Part 10: Determination of the water soluble chloride content
Part 11: Determination of air void characteristics in hardened concrete
Part 12: Determination of the alkali content of admixtures
Part 13: Reference masonry mortar for testing mortar admixtures
Part 14: Determination of the effect on corrosion susceptibility of reinforcing
steel by potentiostatic electro-chemical test

National Forward to SS EN 943- series indicates test temperature for Singapore

EN 934-1:2008, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Part 1: Common
requirements
Table 1 General requirements
(as in Table 1 of EN 943-2:2001 with more information on corrosion behaviour and
additional requirement on property silicon dioxide SiO
2
content)

- Clause 5 Corrosion behaviour (test method, EN 480-14)
5.1 No testing for corrosion behaviour is required for admixtures
containing only substances on the approved list A.1 and declared list A.2
(see EN 934-1)
Admixtures containing substances on the declared list A.2 shall have the
names of the substances declared on the label

+ 5.2 Test requirement
When tested in accordance with EN 480-14 the calculated current density of
each of the three test mix specimens shall not exceed 10 A/cm
2
at any time
between 1h and 24 h. In addition, there shall be a similar trend in the
progression of the current density vs. time curves for the control mix and the
test mix

Silicon dioxide SiO
2
content (test method, EN 196-2)
Manufacturers stated values and characteristics shall be provided in writing
to the user upon request. The silicon dioxide content is only required when
silica is a constituent intended to exceed 5% by mass of the admixture. This
requirement does not apply to natural sand
Requirement: Not above manufacturers stated maximum value in % by mass
(0%)


Chemical Admixtures
BS EN 934-2: 2001 (Amendment A1:2004, A2:2005)
Part 2: Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Part 2: Concrete admixtures
Definitions, requirements, conformity, marking and labelling
- Compliance dosage
dosage of an admixture, expressed in % by mass of cement, stated by
manufacturer which will meet the requirements of this standard
(within recommended range of dosage)
- Recommended range of dosage
dosages between limits expressed in % by mass of cement which the
manufacturer recommends for the product based on experience on site
- Reference concrete and mortar
concrete and mortar as specified in EN 480-1 for testing admixtures for
conformity with this standard (Note: not materials and mix on site)
- Primary function
a single function of a multifunction admixture designated by the
manufacturer
- Secondary function
a function of a multifunction admixture which is additional to the primary
function, e.g. set retarding and water reducing

Requirements for Specific Types of Admixtures

+ Water reducing/plasticizing admixtures Table 2
+ High range water reducing/plasticizing admixtures Tables 3.1 and 3.2
+ Water retaining admixtures Table 4
+ Air entraining admixtures Table 5
+ Set accelerating admixtures Table 6
+ Hardening accelerating admixtures Table 7
+ High range water reducing/plasticizing admixtures Tables 3.1 and 3.2
+ Set retarding admixtures Table 8
+ Water resisting admixtures Table 9
+ Set retarding/water reducing/plasticizing admixtures Table 10
+ Set retarding/high range water reducing/
superplasticizing admixtures Tables 11.1 and 11.2
+ Set accelerating/water reducing/plasticizing admixtures Table 12

CONFORMITY CONTROL
Requirements for conformity control are given in EB 934-2001. The frequency of
testing in connection with factory production control is given in Table 13.

Only a few of the above Tables are used to illustrate the approach for conformity

High Range Water Reducing/Superplasticizing Admixtures
Table 3.1
At equal consistence
Reference Concrete I

Control mix:
Slump: 70 10 mm (60 80)
Test Mix:
Slump: > 12% (60 > 80)
(70 > 90)
(80 >100)
Table 3.2
At equal w/c ratio
Reference Concrete IV

Control mix:
Slump: 30 10 mm (20 80)
Test Mix:
Slump: > 120 mm
At 30 min after addition:
Slump: not less than initial
value of control mix
Set Retarding/High Range Water Reducing/Superplasticizing Admixtures
Table 11.1
At equal consistence
Reference Concrete I

Control mix:
Slump: 70 10 mm (60 80)
Test Mix:
Slump: > 12% (60 > 80)
(70 > 90)
(80 >100)
Setting time:
Reference Mortar
(Vicat apparatus)
Table 11.2
At equal w/c ratio
Reference Concrete IV

Control mix:
Slump: 30 10 mm (20 80)
Test Mix:
Slump: > 120 mm
At 30 min after addition:
Slump: not less than initial
value of control mix
EN 934 2: Tables 2, 3.1, 3.2, 4, 5 and 6 (also Tables 7 to 12)
Equal consistence
Equal w/c ratio
Equal consistence
Equal consistence
Equal consistence

Testing of Admixtures
EN 480-1:2006, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Test Methods

This standard specifies the constituent materials, the composition and
the mixing method to produce reference concrete and reference mortar
for testing the efficacy and the compatibility of admixtures in accordance
with the series of EN 934
+ Cement: CEM I cement of strength class 42,5 or 52,5 conformity to EN 197-1
C
3
A content 7% to 11% by mass
Specific surface 3 200 cm
2
/g to 4 000 cm
2
/g (Blaine fineness)
(Na
2
O eqv not specified, but recommend for its value to be reported)
- Aggregate for reference concrete: natural normal weight aggregate
conforming to EN 12620 with water absorption less than 2% by mass and
size fractions within limits given in Table 1 Aggregate for reference
concrete
Aperture size (mm) 31,5 16,0 8,0 4,0 2,0 1,0 0,5 0,25 0,125
% by mass passing 100 75 95 45 70 35 50 25 40 20 35 10 25 4 12 1 8
The variation in the quantity passing each sieve of the chosen grading for both
mixes (control and test mix) shall not exceed 2% by mass


- Aggregate for reference mortar: standard sand according to EN 196-1
- Mixing water: water according to EN 1008
Distilled or de-ionised water may be used in special cases
Not allowed to use wash water from concrete production
+ Reference mortar comparative tests
Performance of admixtures is determined by comparing the reference
mortar containing an admixture (test mix) with the reference mortar
without an admixture (control mix)
Standard mortar conforming to EN 196-1 used as reference mortar:
one part of cement : three parts of standard sand : one half part water
(1 : 3 : 1 by mass with admixture added to test mix)
Except when testing water resisting admixtures at equal w/c ratio, for test
mixes the water added shall be sufficient to give equal consistence to
that of the control mix (Clause 7, Production of reference mortar)


+ Reference concrete comparative tests
Performance of admixtures is determined by comparing the reference
concrete containing an admixture (test mix) with the reference concrete
made without the an admixture (control mix) but otherwise with the same
aggregate/cement ratio and constituent materials from the same delivery.
(air content of control mix shall not exceed 2% by volume)
Table 2 Requirements for reference concrete
a

Reference concrete Cement content
c
kg/m
3

Consistence

at required test temperature
Slump (mm)
b
EN 12350-2 Flow (mm)
d
EN 12350-5
I 350 5 70 10 400 20
II 300 5 120 20 450 20
III 350 5 50 10 350 10
IV 350 5 30 10 350 20
a
When testing at equal w/c ratio requirements for consistence apply only to control mix
b
Alternatives to be chosen before starting test
c
Control mix only. Resulting cement content of test mix may change due to effects of admixture added
d
For high range water reducing/superplasticizing admixture consistence of test mix shall be not less than
that of control mix with no upper limit on consistence of test mix



- Production of reference concrete
Cement content in accordance with Table 2 (I, II, III or IV)
- Aggregates shall be used in an oven dry condition (> 150
O
C)
If not oven dry, determine moisture content to correct specific gravity
In case of dispute, oven dry aggregate shall be used
+ Details in Clause 6.2 Mixing and testing
Testing and curing temperature: (20 2)
O
C to be (27 2)
O
C for
laboratory temperature in warm countries (ISO)
3 cubes or cylinders for compressive strength testing if one of the
specimens varies from the average for the set by more than 10%, it shall
be discarded and the average recalculated on the remaining two
specimens
- Test report Clause 8: to include detailed information on aggregates,
cement, control concrete and/or mortar, test concrete and/or mortar

EN 480-2:2006, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout
Test Methods Part 2: Determination of setting time
- The setting time is determined by observing the penetration of a
needle into a reference mortar until it reaches a specific value
(Vicat apparatus same needle used for determining both initial
and final setting time, as for initial setting time of cement)
- The reference mortar with admixture (test mix) shall have the same
consistence as the reference mortar without admixture (control
mix) that conforms to EN 480-1
- The mixing water required (test mix) shall be determined in advance
according to EN 413-2 Masonry cement Part 2: Test methods
+ The time measured from completion of mixing until the time at which
the distance between the needle and the base plate is 4,0 mm
(penetration of 26 mm) is the initial setting time for the mortar.
+ The time measured from completion of mixing until the time after
which the needle no longer penetrates 2,5 mm into the specimen
is the final setting time for the mortar
Note: The values so determined have no relationship with those
determined based on ASTM C 403 or BS 5038 using wet sieved
mortar from a concrete

SETTING TIME TEST EN 480-2 vs SS 320 (BS 5075)
Vicat Penetration
Standard Mortar
Setting Time Test (ASTM C 403, BS 5075, SS 320)
Standard Penetration Needle
Wet-sieved Mortar from Concrete
Time to 3.5 MPa potential cold joint formation
A more rational method for determining
potential cold joint time needs to be
developed for testing fresh concrete both
in the laboratory as well as on site

Chemical Admixtures

Performance based testing using standard mortar and standard concrete for
conformity assessment only (TEST RESULTS NOT DIRECTLY APPLICABLE
TO SITE REQUIREMENTS PERFORMANCE TESTING OF DESIGNED
CONCRETE NEEDED)

For application, initial testing for required performance, e.g. dosage to
provide specified consistence of designed concrete for a project

Test certificates show results not necessarily the same way as for current test
methods

Setting time test based on penetration of Vicat needle on standard mortar
(standard EN sand) mainly to assess delay in setting with retarding admixture

Current practice on setting time (penetration of standard rod on wet-sieved
mortar from concrete) may need to be retained for potential cold joint
formation time (new test method directly on concrete to be developed and
correlated to time beyond which cold joint formation can be detected)

Factory production control and certification are likely to be adopted by major
manufacturers, locally or from overseas

Efficiency of Admixtures

Varied by concentration (solid content) and between brands
(nominal water-reduction admixtures: 1G-10%, 2G-20%, 3G-30%)

Effectiveness varies with different cements:
(a) cement fineness
(b) equivalent alkali content (%Na
2
O

+

0.658%K
2
O)
(c) C
3
A content
(Effectiveness reduced when any one of above factors in the cement increases)

Effectiveness lowered by increase in concrete temperature


Admixture Testing

- Conformity tests for admixtures are based on standard mortar and
standard concretes under prescribed conditions

- The performance is verified against stated values in BS 934 series of
admixture specifications for different applications

+ For site concretes, the constituent materials for concrete and their
proportions adopted are in general not those in the standard
mortar or standard concretes for admixture testing

+ Initial testing is necessary to established the required dosage for
intended application, particularly when more than one type of
admixtures are added

Concrete A Simple but Complex Composite Material
Concrete Simple Material
A composite material made from cement, water, fine aggregate and
coarse aggregate plus one or more chemical admixtures

Concrete Complex Composite Material
(e.g. two phase material = particle in matrix)

Composite Dispersed (particle) phase Matrix phase
Concrete Coarse aggregates Mortar
Mortar Fine aggregates Cement paste
Cement paste Unhydrated cement grains Hydrated cement paste
Cement chemically consisting of many oxides, CaO, SiO
2,
Al
2
O
3
, Fe
2
O
3,
MgO,
SO
3
, K
2
O, Na
2
O, P
2
O
5
, TiO
2
main and minor in quantity, but influence is not
always proportional to mass fraction, e.g. SO
3
, K
2
O, Na
2
O,
Potential compounds tricalcium silicate, di-calcium silicate, tricalcium
aluminate and tetracalcium aluminoferrite
Hydration products cover a range of silicates of slightly different compositions
and crystal structures plus calcium hydroxide
Physically, particles of unhydrated cement of different sizes and aggregates of
different shapes and sizes as well as surface textures
Concrete A Simple but Complex Composite Material

Behaviour of Concrete
In the design of concrete structures formulae are based on properties of
a homogeneous material and constitutive equations of a continuous
medium (similar to steel or other metallic materials)
Concrete of the same composition may develop different strength and
other properties due to processes of handling (from mixer to finished
structure), compaction, curing and exposure conditions
Much higher variability within its mass due to the above factors in
addition to local distribution of dispersed phase and degree of cement
hydration (with depth from external faces)
Unlike metals at ambient conditions, deformation of concrete increases
with time of sustained loading (known as creep)
Beyond a critical level of tensile strain (even within design service
conditions), micro-cracking develops at particle/matrix interface
(interfacial transition zone, ITZ)
The apparent post linear behaviour is contributed by a series of crack
formation, crack arrest and eventually crack propagation until cracks
are linked resulting in final fracture due to its complex composite
structure
Mechanism of Water Reduction
Electrostatic repulsion
negatively charged
organic molecules
adsorb primarily at the
solid-water interface

-Molecules of WRA
interact to neutralize
surface charges on
cement particles and
cause all surface to
carry uniform charges of
like sign

Particles repel each
other, remain dispersed

Cement
particles
Water
reducing
admixture
molecules

Cement
particles Trapped
water
Mechanism of Water Reduction (contd)
Steric Repulsion
Some of the newer admixtures use negatively charged polymers
The bulky nature of the adsorbed molecules can cause additional
steric repulsion

Cement
particles
Water
reducing
admixture
molecules
Freed
water
Examples of Admixtures Kao Corporation Japan
Chemical Admixtures:

1
st
Generation : Air entraining
1930s

2
nd
Generation: Water reducing
1940s (1G plasticiser)

3
rd
Generation: High range water
reducing (superplasticizer)

4
th
Generation: Slump retensive
high range water reducing
Co-polymers:
Engineered admixtures with
specific functions
Composition
Regular WRA
Lignosulphonates
Hydro-carboxylic acids and their salts
Hydroxylated polymers derived from hydrolyzed starch

High-range WRA (superplasticizers)
Sulphonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates
Sulphonated melamine-formaldehyde condensates
Modified lignosulphonates
Carboxylated acrylic ester copolymers (polycarboxylates)

Effect on the Properties of Fresh Concrete
Flowing concrete
Increase slump
Use of SP allows high slumps to be achieved without
excessive segregation and bleeding
pumping concrete, self-leveling concrete, tremie placement

Slump loss
Adding a second dose
Delaying the initial addition

W/C = 0.45
Example
w/c=0.45
Slump > 50mm
at 150 min
Low slump loss
Addition of Plasticiser
Note:
Good slump retention plasticiser has low slump loss after 180 min (1)

Plain concrete, w/c = 0.45, initial slump 100 mm, drops to about 25 mm after 150 min (4)
With delayed addition (e.g. 75 min) achieves about 50 mm slump after 150 min (6)

Plain concrete at w/c = 0.60, initial slump 225 mm, slightly above 50 mm after 150 min (2)
With first dose at w/c = 0.45, initial slump 225 mm, drops to blow 50 mm after 150 min (3)
With second dose (after 60 min) achieves about 50 mm slump after 150 min (5)
Target :50 mm
Mindess, 2003
Target slump at time of placing:
50 mm 2.5 hours after addition
of water at plant
Addition of Plasticiser
Source: Dodson, 1990
HR-N : high range, non-retarding admixture
(22
O
C)
Bleeding and air entrainment
Bleeding
Overdose of superplasticizer should be avoided
Air entrainment
Regular WRA will reduce the amount of an AEA required to
attain a given air content

Retardation of set
Many regular or mid-range WRA will also act as retarding
agents, some SP at high dosages have retarding effect
Beneficial in hot weather concreting so long as it does
not affect setting and strength development significantly
Effect on the Properties of Hardened Concrete
Compressive strength
When WRA is used to lower water requirement, strength |
| in the compressive strength is up to 25% greater than would
be anticipated from the + in w/c alone, attributed to more
uniform microstructure
High-strength concrete
SPs are used in most concrete with 28-day compressive
strengths of more than 80 MPa
Lower w/c improve the rate of strength development at early
age, can be used for precast concrete plant
Other properties
Reduce permeability
| in the rate of shrinkage is often observed; after 90 days of
drying, little difference compared with control concrete
With creep, the situation is less clear, different admixtures may
| or + the creep

Set-Retarding Admixtures (Type B in ASTM C 494)
Applications
Offset the effect of high temperature
Prolong the plasticity of fresh concrete
Eliminate cold joints
Special effect on concrete surface with exposed aggregate
Composition
Lignosulphonic acids and their salts water reducing,
Hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts can be classified
Sugars and their derivatives as ASTM Type D
Phosphates and organic phosphonate salts
Salts of amphoteric metals, such as zinc, lead, or tin

water-reducing, set-retarding admixtures

(FHWA HIF-07-004)
Retarders extend
Stage 2
Mode of Action of Set Retarding Admixtures
Effect on C
3
S hydration
Slow down the rate of early hydration by extending the
length of induction period (Stage 2), the length of induction
period depends on the amount of retarders added
Once Stage 3 begins, hydration can proceed normally again
Organic retarders
able to strongly adsorb onto the nuclei of CH and inhibit their
growth into large crystals
Inorganic retarders
more complex, can form coating around C
3
S particles that
severely reduce the rate of reaction

Extended set control
Retard concrete setting in emergencies in ready-mix trucks
(sugar, carbonated beverages)
Special admixture to pause hydration until activated by
another admixture (e.g. spray concrete for tunnel lining)
Effect on Concrete Properties
Retardation increases when the addition of a retarder
to concrete is delayed for a few minutes after the
addition of water

Strength
One-day strength reduced (for long delay in setting)
Approach the strength of control concrete within 8 days
Increase ultimate strength

Drying shrinkage and creep
Lab experiments indicate that admixtures increase the
rate of drying shrinkage and creep, but not the ultimate
values

Because retarders are sensitive to cement
composition, admixture should be evaluated with the
cement that is to be used on the job

Over retardation
needs protection
from loss of
moisture until
final set
Set-Accelerating Admixtures
Categories
Admixtures that accelerate the normal processes of setting &
strength development (speed construction, for winter
concreting)
Admixtures that provide very rapid setting not normally
associated with OPC (setting in a few minutes, used for
shotcrete, plugging leaks)
Composition
Soluble inorganic salts
Accelerate setting and hardening, e.g. Calcium chloride
(increase reinforcement corrosion, should not be used in
reinforced concrete and prestress concrete), Calcium
nitrite
Quick setting, e.g. carbonates, aluminates, and ferric salts
Soluble organic compounds
Calcium formate, calcium acetate
Mode of Action (Set-accelerating admixtures)
Conventional accelerators have exactly the opposite
action that retarders have
| the rate of C
3
S hydration & strength development
Induction period is shortened, the rate of hydration during
Stages 3 & 4 |
In the cases with Calcium salts: increase the rate at which CH
crystals nucleate and grow
In the cases with organic
accelerators: increase the
rate of C
3
S hydration

Quick setting admixtures cause fast setting of C
3
A by
promoting very rapid hydration
Effects of Accelerating Admixtures on
Concrete Properties
Cut down the time during which concrete can be handled
Increase 1-day strength
Later strength ( 28 days) are likely to be lower than the
strength of concrete without accelerating admixtures
Specifics
Quick setting admixtures: reduce durability of concrete if
they have adverse effect on strength
Air Entraining admixtures (AEA)
Used to protect concrete from damage due
to repeated freezing/thawing cycles
Entrapped air (exist in all concrete)
Irregular shape
Size can be up to several mm
Entrained air voids (introduced into
concrete by using AEA)
Spherical in shape
Size ranging from 0.05 to 1.25 mm

Air-entrained concrete cannot be
distinguished from non-air-entrained
concrete with the naked eyes
In field, only total air content is controlled
Air Entraining admixtures (AEA)
AEA |, air content of concrete |
Amount of air required for durability purpose
Mortar: ~9% by volume of mortar
Concrete: 4-8% depending on the max aggregate size

Spacing factor ( ) , should be < 0.2 mm
the average distance from any point in the paste to the
edge of the nearest void
Specific surface area (o)
Bubble frequency (n)
L
Note: freezing cycle may lead to
spalling of concrete
Air-Entraining Materials
Containing surface-active agents
that will concentrate on air-water
interface, lower the surface tension
to promote the formation of stable
bubbles (foams)
Molecules which at one end
have chemical groups that tend to
dissolve in water [hydrophilic
(water-loving)], while the rest of
the molecules is repelled by water
[hydrophobic (water-hating)]
The molecules tends to align at
the air-water interface with their
hydrophilic groups in the water
and the hydrophobic portion in air
hobic
Factors Affecting Air Entrainment
Air entraining potential of an AEA depends on the
concrete materials used and their proportions

An air-entraining admixture should always be tested
under field condition because the amount of entrained
air it provides can be affected by a variety of factors

Typical dosage
0.005 0.05% of active ingredient by mass of cement
The dosage of the AEA can be adjusted to bring the air
content to within the recommended limits

Fresh concrete
Improve workability
tiny bubbles act as low-friction, elastic fine aggregate that
reduce interaction between large aggregate particles
Improve cohesiveness, reduce bleeding and segregation
Hardened concrete
Detrimental on concrete strength in general
Rule of thumb: each 1% entrained air will lower strength
by 5%
However, air entrainment has much less effect or may not
affect the strength of lean concrete (cement < 300 kg/m
3
)
There is an optimum amount of air for good durability
Too high air content generally indicate large bubble size,
will drastically reduce strength and reduce concrete
resistance to stress from freezing
Viscosity modifiers
Increase the cohesiveness of fresh concrete
Reduce segregation and bleeding
Applications
Concrete placed under water (antiwashout admixtures)
Concrete or grout placed by pumping (pumping aids)
Self-compacting concrete
Materials commonly used
Polyethylene oxides
Cellulose ethers
Natural gums
Polyvinyl alcohol
BS EN 934-2: 2009 + A1: 2012
(SS EN 934: 2008 to be updated)
Viscosity modifying admixture
Admixture incorporated in concrete to limit segregation by
improving cohesion
Table 13 Specific requirements for viscosity modifying admixture

No Property Reference
concrete
Test Method Requirements
1 Segregated
portion SR
prEN 480-15
EN 12350-11 Control mix 15 % and SR 30 %
Test mix SR 70 % of the value
obtained with the control mix
2 Compressive
strength
EN 13390-3 At 28 days: test mix 80 % of
control mix
3 Air content
in fresh
concrete
EN 12350-7 Test mix 2 % (by volume) above
control mix unless stated
otherwise by the manufacturer
prEN 480-15, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Test methods Part 15:
Reference concrete and method of testing viscosity modifying admixtures
EN 12350-11, Testing fresh concrete Part 11: Self-compacting concrete Sieve
segregation test
Corrosion inhibitors
Admixtures that reduce corrosion of steel reinforcement
Do not inhibit the corrosion reactions completely
But reduce the rate of corrosion

Anodic inhibitors are the most widely use
Calcium nitrite, also used as accelerating admixture
(Mindess et al. 2003)
- Ability to accept
electrons
- effective only at
sufficiently high
concentration
Alkali-aggregate reaction inhibiting admixtures
(Lithium and barium salts)
Convert alkali-silica gels to insoluble lithium or barium
salts
Reduce the expansion associated with the alkali-silica
reaction
Shrinkage reducing admixtures
+ capillary tension that develops within the concrete pores
as it dries
+ drying shrinkage
+ contact angle between fibers and pore solution
Improve bonding between fibers and cement paste matrix

Comparison of ASTM and BS-EN Standards
ASTM BS-EN
Chemical
admixtures
C 260 Spec for
AEA for concrete

934-1: 2008- common requirements
(SS EN 934-1: 2008)
934-2: concrete admixtures
(including AEA, P, SP, accelerating,
retarding admixture + water
retaining & water resisting
admixture)
(SS EN 534-2: 2008)*
BS EN 934-2: 2009 + A1: 2012
934-3: admixture for masonry
mortars
934-4: admixture for grout for
prestressing tendons
934-5: admixture for sprayed
concrete
* To be updated
C 494 Spec for
Chemical admixtures
for concrete, Type A,
B, C, D, E, F, G
C 1017 Spec for
chemical admixtures
for use in producing
flowing concrete
(slump >190 mm)

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Chemical Admixtures

Definition (ASTM C 125): a material other than water,

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