STUDY ON DURABILITY &

PROPERTIES OF HIGH
PERFORMANCE
CONCRETE WITH ALCCOFINE AND
FLY ASH

PRESENTED BY
ANIKET GHOSH DASTIDAR
CONSTRUCTION ENGG. 4 TH YEAR
JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY

What is High Performance concrete (HPC)

?
High performance concrete refers to a mix of concrete that has the
following properties:

High strength
High modulus of elasticity
High abrasion resistance
High durability
Low permeability and diffusion
Resistance to chemical attack and frost
Ease of placement
Compaction without segregation

What is Alccofine?
Alccofine Micro Materials are a range of products of Counto Microfine

Products Pvt. Ltd (CMPPL) a joint venture between ACL and the Goabased, Alcon Group, launched in the year 2013.
The two products that have been launched are Alccofine 1203 (a

supplementary cementitious material suitably replaces Silica fume

used in high performance concrete); and Alccofine 1101 (a micro-fine
cement based product used for injection grout in underground
tunnels and soil stabilization etc)
It is a new-generation, ultrafine product whose basic raw material is

slag of high glass content with high reactivity obtained through the
process of controlled granulation.
The raw materials are composed primarily of low calcium silicates.

The processing with other select ingredients results in controlled

particle size distribution (PSD). Due to its unique chemistry and ultra
fine particle size, ALCCOFINE 1203 provides reduced water demand
for a given workability, and can also be used as a high range water
reducer to improve compressive strength or as a super workability
aid to improve flow.

How Alccofine works?

ALCCOFINE1203 performs in superior manner than all other
mineral admixtures used in concrete within India. Due to its inbuilt
CaO content, ALCCOFINE1203 triggers two way reactions during
hydration
Primary reaction of cement hydration.
Pozzolanic reaction: ALCCOFINE also consumes by product
calcium
hydroxide from the hydration of cement to form
additional C-S-H gel,
similar to pozzolans.
This results in denser pore structure and ultimately higher strength
gain. This study presents the results of examination carried out on
ALCCOFINE1203 in comparison with Silica Fume in concrete, and
the effect it has on workability, water requirement, admixture
requirement, strength and durability

Properties of Alccofine 1203

The chemical composition and the physical properties of Alccofine
are as follows:
Chemical
Analysis

Mass %

Physical
analysis

Range

CaO

62-64

Bulk Density

700-900 kg/m3

Al2O3

5-5.6

Surface Area

12000 cm2/gm

Fe2O3

3.8-4.4

Specific gravity

2.9

SO3

2-2.4

Particle Size,
d10

<2

MgO

0.8-1.4

d50

< 5

SiO2

21-23

d90

<9

Particle size distribution comparison

Advantages
Following are the technical benefits of using Alccofine 1203
Improved workability and cohesiveness and reduced

shrinkage: Having better particle-size distribution compared to

other supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which provide
a dense matrix pore structure resulting in better workability,
cohesiveness and superior volume stability (shrinkage).
Better retention of workability: Offering better compatibility

with cement and certain chemical admixtures, its physical/chemical

structure on hydration improves the workability retention properties
of fresh concrete.
Reduced segregation: Ultrafine slag improves particle packing

in the cementitious paste by filling cement particle voids by virtue

of proper distribution of particles, whereby it reduces the bleed
water and results in more homogeneous concrete with reduced
segregation.
Improved flow ability: The material has better particle packing,

which results in improved rheology resulting in improved flowability.

 Improved durability: Resulting in a dense pore structure, which

restricts the ingress of chloride and sulphate ions, this green material,
unlike other equivalent material, makes concrete more alkaline,
thereby protecting the reinforced steel in concrete and providing a
durable structure.
Improved strength gain: Ultrafine slag results in the formation of

a dense pore structure, and in-built Ca(OH)2, due to cement hydration,

provides an increased secondary hydrated product resulting in
improved strength gain at early as well as later stages. It can be used
to achieve strengths as high as M120 if mixed in proper proportions.
Retention of alkalinity: Ultrafine slag has lime content of about

34 per cent that, during hydration, helps retain higher alkalinity in

pore solution, thereby mitigating corrosion.
Improves resistance to chemical attack: Because of its finer

pore structure and chemical stability, ALCCOFINE 1203 in concrete is

substantially more resistant to chloride diffusion. Thus, it reduces the
penetration of chlorides in concrete and protects embedded steel from
corrosion. CaO available in ALCCOFINE 1203 Contribute to maintain
Ca(OH)2 as buffer in pore Solution, which helps to maintain pH of pore
solution
Reduces heat of hydration
Lowers permeability

Effects on workability
The effect of Alccofine on the workability of a concrete mix was
checked by carrying out a slump test.
The grade of concrete used was OPC 43.
Two mixes were prepared one having Fly ash and silica fumes as

additive to the cement, while the other having Alccofine 1203 and
Fly ash as the additive.
A new generation Poly-Carboxylic Ether (PCE) based super-

plasticizer was used. This super-plasticizer is available as a

medium brown coloured aqueous solution.
The Slump was greater in the mix containing Alccofine rather than

the one with Silica fumes

Due to its unique particle size distribution and inbuilt CaO ,

ALCCOFINE 1203 results in to formation of dense pore structure,
which results in improved workability and workability retention . The
value of flow decreases in silica fume mix concrete and hence the
optimum super plasticizer dosage increases, which
can be attributed to high specific surface of silica fume

Effect on compressive strength

For carrying out tests on compressive strength , the grade of

cement used was OPC 53.

Two ternary blend of concrete were prepared , one containing Fly

ash and Alccofine (Type I) and the other containing Fly ash and
Silica Fumes (Type II).
For each mix of concrete, three concrete cube specimens were cast

each of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm. To obtain a homogeneous

mix, aggregates were mixed and binders (cement, FA and AL) were
added to the system. After remixing, water was added to the dry
mix. Finally, super plasticizer was introduced to the wet mixture.
The cubes were cast in three equal layers and each layer was

compacted by using a vibrating table and for beam specimen (for

calculating flexural strength) needle vibrator was used.
The optimum doses of Fly ash and Alccofine in Type I mix were

varied by trial and error till the optimum dose, corresponding to

which the highest compressive strength is obtained, was achieved.
This was found to be 20% (Fly ash) and 8% (Alccofine) by weight of
cement.

 Similarly for Type II mix, the doses were varied by trial and error

and the optimum doses achieved were 25% (Fly ash) and 10%
(Silica fume) by weight of cement.
Water-cement ratio used was 0.4 for both mixes.
Mix proportion used for the blends were

Item

Quantity
(Kg/m^3)

Item

Quantity
(Kg/m^3)

Cement (72%)

310.25

Cement (65%)

276.25

Alccofine (8%)

34

42.5

Fly ash (20%)

85

Silica Fume
(10%)

Coarse
aggregate

1096

Fly ash (25%)

106.25
1096

Fine aggregate

838

Coarse
aggregate

Water

170

Fine aggregate

838

Admixture

4
Type I mix

Water
Admixture

170
Type II mix
6

The results were as follows

Compressive Strength

Flexural Strength

Water permeability
The test was used to measure the impermeability of concrete.

According to this test the cubes were initially water-cured for 28 days,
and then exposed to water pressure of 5 bars for 72 hours after which
the cube was divided and the depth of water penetration measured.
Penetration of less than 25 mm is generally considered to be
impermeable concrete.
The cubes were made from the Type I and Type II mixes that were

cast for the compressive strength test.

The permeability results obtained were

(i) Alcofine mix : 13 mm

(ii) Silica Fume mix : 18 mm
As per the results described above we can see that the water
permeability in case of ALCCOFINE 1203 is less than that of Silica
Fume. Presence of ultra fine Cementitious / pozzolanic materials
allows denser packing between cement particles and reduces the
wall effect in transition zone between the paste and the aggregate.
This refines the concrete microstructure and enhances the degree of
impermeability and the strength characteristics of concrete.

Chloride Permeability
The chloride penetration test was compared between ALCCOFINE

1203 and OPC. The ASTM C 1543 test measures the penetration of
chloride ion into concrete. Three slabs of concrete measuring
90mm thick and 300mm square surface area. The slabs used were
water cured for 28 days.
After the conditioning period 3% NaCl solution was ponded on a

top surface for 90 days, while the bottom face was left exposed to
drying environment.
At the end of this time powdered samples by rotary impact

hammer are obtained at various depths (10-20, 25-35, 40-50, 5565mm). Chloride content of the sample from each depth were
determined and reported .

 Results obtained were as follows

Because of its finer pore

structure and chemical stability,
ALCCOFINE 1203 in concrete is
substantially more resistant to
chloride diffusion. Thus, it
reduces the penetration of
chlorides in concrete and
protects embedded steel from
corrosion. CaO available in
ALCCOFINE 1203 Contribute to
maintain Ca(OH)2 as buffer in
pore Solution, which helps to
maintain pH of pore solution.
Denser pore matrix restricts
chloride penetration and
alkalinity forms passive layer on
steel and protect it from
corrosion

Conclusion
In this study, the effect of local Alccofine as supplementary cementing
materials and filling materials on the strength and durability of concretes
was investigated. It is apparent that ternary cementitious blends of
Portland cement, alccofine, and fly ash offer significant advantages over
binary blends and even greater enhancements over plain Portland
cement. The combination of alccofine and class F fly ash is
complementary: the alccofine improves the early age performance of
concrete with the fly ash continuously refining the properties of the
hardened concrete as it matures. In terms of durability, such blends are
vastly superior to plain Portland cement concrete.
From the results obtained in this study, the following conclusion can be
drawn :
(i) Very high workability can be obtained by using mixes containing
Alccofine rather than only OPC.
(ii) The minimum loss of weight and loss of compressive strength of
concrete in Chloride Resistance test and Sea water test due to addition of
Alccofine. Due to its more compactness and less permeability of concrete
effect of Chloride Attack is reducing. This is converts leachable calcium
hydroxide into insoluble non- leachable cementanious product. This

(iii) Alccofine increases the particle packing and it increases the

strength of concrete.
(iv) Very high resistance to chloride ion penetration can be obtained
with ternary blends.
(v) We concluded that compressive strength achieved by using
Alccofine (8%) + Fly Ash (20%) is 54.89Mpa and 72.97 Mpa at 28
and 56 days respectively using OPC grade 53.

References
IS: 10262-1982, Recommended Guidelines for Concrete Mix

Design, Fifth Reprint March-1998, Bureau of Indian Standards, New

Delhi
Study on durability of high performance concrete with industrial

wastes By Pazhani.K, Jeyaraj.R,ATI Volume 2, Issue 2, August

2010, pp. 19-28
M. Vijaya Sekhar Reddy, I.V. Ramana Reddy, 3 N.Krishna Murthy ,

Predicting the Strength Properties of High Performance Concrete

using Mineral and Chemical Admixtures , VOL. 3, NO. 1, Jan 2013
ISSN 2225-7217

Thank You