http://www.ce.memphis.
edu/1101/notes/concrete/P Superplasticizers (High Range Water
CA_manual/Chap06.pdf
http://www.aboutcivil.org/concrete-technology-
admixtures.html
http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete
/library/materials/Admixture/AdmixturesMain.html
http://www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/
1296815485110-page_3.pdf
Admixture - A material other than water,
aggregates, or cement that is used as an ingredient
of concrete or mortar to control setting and early
hardening, workability, or to provide additional
cementing properties.
Types of Admixtures:
1. CHEMICAL ADMIXTURE
Water-reducing admixture/Plasticizers
- Are admixtures for concrete, which
are added in order to reduce the water
content in a mixture or to slow the
setting rate of the concrete while
retaining the flowing properties of a
concrete mixture.
Advantages:
a. They increase the workability of the
concrete without reducing the compressive
strength or without changing water-cement
ratio so as to ease placing in accessible
locations
b. High strength can be obtained with the
same cement content by reducing water
cement ratio.
c. A saving in the quantity of cement (approx.
upto 10%) can be achieved keeping the
same water/ cement ratio and workability.
d. To achieve the same workability by
decreasing the cement content so as to
reduce the heat of hydration in mass
concrete.
e. Water reduction more than 5% but less
than 12%
The commonly used admixtures are Ligno-
sulphonates and hydrocarbolic acid salts
Reducer(HRWR))
- Superplasticizers increase flowability
of concrete and reduce water
cement ratio. They can greatly reduce
water demand and cement contents
and make low water-cement ratio,
high-strength concrete with normal or
enhanced workability.
Advantages:
a. Cement content can be reduced to a
greater extent keeping the same
water/cement ratio. This will lead to
economy.
b. Water-cement ratio can be reduced
significantly keeping same cement content
and workability. This will lead to increase in
strength. Ultimate compressive strengths
in excess of 70 MPa (10,000 psi) and
increased early strength gain
c. Higher workability at very low water
cement ratio like casting concrete with
heavy reinforcement typically by raising the
slump from 75mm to 200 mm, the mix
remaining cohesive.
d. Reduction in permeability, reduced
chloride-ion penetration
e. Where early strength development is
required in prestressed concrete or casting
of floor, where early access for finishing
equipment is required. Concrete early
strength enhancement (50 to 75%). The
initial setting time may be accelerated up
to an hour earlier or retarded to be an hour
later according to its chemical reaction.
f. Water reduction of 12% to 30% can be
obtained through the use of these
admixtures.
The main disadvantage of superplasticizer usage is
loss of workability as a result of rapid slump loss
and incompatibility of cement and superplasticizers.
Typical dosage of superplasticizers used for
increasing the workability of concrete ranges from 1
to 3 liters per cubic meter of concrete where liquid
superplasticizers contained about 40 % of active
material. In reducing the water cement ratio, higher
dosage is used, that is from 5 to 20 liters per cubic
meter of concrete.
The commonly used Super Plasticizers are as
follows:
Sulphonated melamine formaldehyde c
ondensates (SMF)
Give 1625%+ water reduction. SMF gives little or
no retardation, which makes them very effective at
low temperatures or where early strength is most
critical. However, at higher temperatures, they lose
workability relatively quickly. SMF generally give a
good finish and are colorless, giving no staining in
white concrete. They are therefore often used
where appearance is important.
Sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde
condensates (SNF)
Typically give 1625%+ water reduction. They tend
to increase the entrapment of larger, unstable air
bubbles. This can improve cohesion but may lead
to more surface defects. Retardation is more than
with SMF but will still not normally exceed 90
minutes. SNF is a very cost-effective.
Polycarboxylate ether superplasticizers
(PCE)
Typically give 2035%+ water reduction. They are
relatively expensive per liter but are very powerful
so a lower dose (or more dilute solution) is normally
used.
Accelerators
- An admixture which, when added to
concrete, mortar, or grout, increases
the rate of hydration of hydraulic
cement, shortens the time of set in
concrete, or increases the rate of
hardening or strength development.
These admixtures function by interaction with C3S
(Tri-calcium silicate) component of the cement thus
increasing the reaction between cement and water.
Accelerating admixtures can be divided into groups
based on their performance and application:
1. Set Accelerating Admixtures
Reduce the time for the mix to change from the
plastic to the hardened state. Set accelerators have
relatively limited use, mainly to produce an early
set.
2. Hardening Accelerators
Which increase the strength at 24 hours by at least
120% at 20C and at 5C by at least 130% at 48
hours. Hardening accelerators find use where early
stripping of shuttering or very early access to
pavements is required. They are often used in
combination with a high range water reducer,
especially in cold conditions.
Advantages:
a. Shortens the setting time of cement and
therefore increases the rate of gain of
strength.
b. Enables earlier release from precast
moulds thus speeding
c. Reduces segregation and increase density
and compressive strength.
d. Cures concrete faster and therefore
uniform curing in winter and summer can
be achieved.
e. Early use of concrete floors by accelerating
the setting of concrete.
f. Reduces water requirements, bleeding,
shrinkage and time required for initial set.
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is the chemical most
commonly used in accelerating admixtures,
especially for non-reinforced concrete.
Set retarders
- The function of retarder is to delay or
extend the setting time of cement
paste in concrete. These are helpful
for concrete that has to be transported
to long distance, and helpful in placing
the concrete at high temperatures.
(When water is first added to cement there
is a rapid initial hydration reaction, after
which there is little formation of further
hydrates for typically 23 hours. The exact
time depends mainly on the cement type
and the temperature. This is called
the dormant period when the concrete is
plastic and can be placed. Retarding
 admixtures delay the end of the dormant
period and the start of setting and
hardening. This is useful when used with
plasticizers to give workability retention.
Used on their own, retarders allow later
vibration of the concrete to prevent the
formation of cold joints between layers of
concrete placed with a significant delay
between them.) (explanation)

The mechanism of set retards is based on

absorption. The large admixture anions
and molecules are absorbed on the
surface of cement particles, which hinders
further reactions between cement and
water i.e. retards setting.

The commonly known retards are Calcium

Ligno-sulphonates and Carbohydrates
derivatives used in fraction of percent by
weight of cement.

Advantages:
a. Improves workability, cohesion and
extends setting time, provides protection
against delays and stoppages and
facilitates keeping workable concrete for
extended period
b. In the large construction, good workability
of the concrete throughout the placing
period and prevention of cold joints is
ensured by adding retarders in the
concrete
c. Extended setting time minimise risks of
long distance delivery in hot weather,
improves pump ability of concrete by
extended setting period and improved
workability of concrete.
d. Reduces bleeding and segregation where
poor sand grading are unavoidable.
e. Reduces adverse environmental effects of
various nature on concrete and embedded
steel by considerable reduction in
permeability.