Concrete Additives: Introduction For You

Concrete Additives are added to the concrete mixture either during or before mixing the concrete. These additives are added to tamper with several properties of the concrete. Certain additives accelerate the setting process while some decelerate the setting process. While some additives increase the manageability some improve the concrete quality.
 

Many, if not all, concrete mixtures contain additive these days. Some of these additives may help manage the concrete better lowering the cost and increasing the productivity.These admixtures will be of varying cost. The cost depends on the type and quantity of admixture that is being used.
 

Kinds of Concrete Additives

Set Retarding: Set retarding concrete additives, as the name suggests, delays the chemical reaction of setting concrete that in turn slows down the whole setting process. Admixtures of this kind are used to combat high temperature circumstances where the initial setting of concrete starts too soon.
 

Air entrainment: Air entrained concrete helpsavoid the degradation of concrete due to setting of frost. Admixtures of this type produce concrete that is much more workable as compared to non-entrained concrete as it reduces segregation and bleeding of any fresh concrete.
 

Water Reducing Concrete Admixtures: Water reducing admixture help to create a favourable consistency of slump even when the water to concrete ratio is lower than normally designed.These admixtures are used to acquire desired concrete strength even when using cement content that is low.
 

Set Accelerating: These admixtures maybe used to accelerate setting time or to increase the rate of concrete strength development. Calcium Chloride is one of the most commonly used accelerating additive.
 

Shrinkage Reducing: Shrinkage reducing admixtures get added to the concrete during the initial mixing. These admixtures help in reducing initial or shrinkage over long-term drying. This type of admixture helps prevent cracking due to shrinkage that in turn could give rise to durability issues.
 

Superplasticizers: Superplasticizers are mainly used in order for production of flowing, high slump, concrete that ranges between 7 to 9 inches. This is used in structures that are heavily reinforced and in places where enough consolidation by using vibration cannot be easily achieved.