See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/369093952

Admixtures in Concrete -A Review

Conference Paper · March 2023

CITATIONS READS

0 2,302

1 author:

Abhijeet Gandage
National Institute of Construction Management and Research
27 PUBLICATIONS 70 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Abhijeet Gandage on 09 March 2023.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Admixtures in Concrete – A Review

Abhijeet S. Gandage
Assistant Professor, School of Construction, NICMAR Pune
Email: [email protected]

Abstract
Admixtures are liquids or powders added in concrete, based on mix design computations, with
an objective to improve the fresh as well as enhance the hardened state properties of concrete.
Workability, strength and finish of the concrete influence the quality, cost and durability of the
concrete. With the growing challenges of environment pollution and adoption of sustainable
construction practices, in addition to cost-quality-time pyramid of construction projects,
adoption of smart construction practices is the key. Concrete production using admixtures is
one of the solutions to meet the above challenge. Chemical admixtures, along with the mix
water, impact the rheology of concrete. Chemical admixtures influence the fresh state as well
as hardened state properties of concrete. The beneficial impact of use of chemical admixtures
on concrete mix can be visualized through the megastructures that have been constructed in the
recent past or under construction. Admixture chemistry plays a significant role to transform
normal concrete mix into a high performance concrete mix. This paper attempts to present the
time line on the development of chemical admixtures, transformation observed in the admixture
chemistry and the applications of the admixtures in some major concrete constructions.

Keywords: Concrete; Admixtures; High Performance Concrete

1. Introduction:
Concrete is the most widely used industrial/domestic resource after water. Portland cement
concrete is the preferred construction material worldwide due to ease of availability of the raw
material at the place of manufacture as well as its low cost of procurement and production. All
the advances in the field of concrete technology are governed by the factors of speed of
construction and quality of the concrete element (durability). The main ingredients for
manufacture of concrete mix are cement, aggregates (fine as well as coarse), water and
admixtures. Technology development in the field of concrete is concurrent with the advances
that happen in cement and admixture industry. With ever growing concern of environment
pollution caused by construction materials/activities, scarcity of natural resources like water
adoption of smart technical options to address the above concerns is the key for survival of the
concrete industry. With availability of variety of cements, apart from ordinary Portland cement,
producing concrete of appropriate design strength at low water cement ratio necessitates the
use of admixtures. Further, the design challenges to build taller and slender structures to cater
to ever growing urbanization along with scarcity of land, needs a workable concrete that can
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

be pumped far and high without compromising its fresh state as well as hardened state
properties. This paper is an attempt to present the developments that have taken place in
admixture technology.

2. Admixtures:
Admixtures are materials added before or during concrete mixing so as to modify one or more
of the properties of the concrete in fresh or hardened state. Admixtures can act either chemically
or physically. As compared to the quantities of regular ingredients of concrete, the quantity of
admixtures added is small. Usually the quantity of admixtures added in concrete mix is 5% of
the mass of cement. Depending on the application of the concrete, the quantity of admixtures
added to concrete can be in the range of 0.5% to 10% of mass of cement. In comparison to
overall composition of concrete and weight of all ingredients, admixtures composition is about
0.02% to 0.5% (Dransfield, 2003). As per IS 9103: 1999, admixtures are any material other
than water, aggregates, hydraulic cements and additives (pozzolanas, slag and/or fibre
reinforcement). Admixtures used in concrete can be either mineral admixtures (additives) or
chemical admixtures. Mineral admixtures also referred to as additives alter the fresh state
properties at low cost. Their influence on the hardened state properties of concrete depends on
the type of additive used (Gandage et al., 2014).
The use of admixtures in concrete traces back to Roman era. Table 1 highlights the
development of admixtures over a period of time (Sika, 2013).
Table 1: Timeline of development of admixtures
Timeline Type of Constituent Effect
Admixture
Roman Retarders Urine Retarding agent
Air entrainment Blood Air entrainment agent
Fibres Straw Fibre reinforced specimen
1910 Aqueous Water based Water proofing
alkaline
1930 Plasticizers Lignosulfonates Water reduction upto 10%
1940 Gluconate Water reduction upto 10% plus
retarder

68
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

1960 Retarders Mix of carbohydrates Retardation

and polyphosphates
Air entrainment Mix of synthetic Air entrainment
surfactants
1970 Water reducers Naphthalene Water reduction upto 20%
1980 Melamine
1990 Vinyl Copolymers Water reduction upto 25%
1990 Hardeners Mixture of organic and Hardening accelerators
inorganic salt solutions
2000 Water reducers Modified Water reduction upto 40%
polycarboxylates
2010 Water reducers Modified Slump retention upto 7 hours
polycarboxylates

Admixtures play an important role in addressing the sustainability aspect of concrete mixes.
Use of appropriate class of admixtures, in correct quantities, can help focus on energy
conservation, climate change, water scarcity, infrastructure demand and growth as well as safe
construction practices.
In case of chemical admixtures, as per ASTM C494, there are seven types of admixtures
classified as Type A to Type G (Kett, 2010). The specifications of the seven types are tabulated
below,
Table 2: Specifications of Chemical Admixtures as per ASTM C494
Type of Admixture Specification
A Water reducing admixtures with water reduction capability of 5%
to 10%
B Retarding admixtures, slow down initial set and final hardening of
concrete
C Accelerating admixtures, accelerate the initial set and final
hardening of concrete
D Water reducers as well as retarding admixtures
E Water reducers as well as accelerating admixtures

69
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

F Superplasticizer or high range water reducing admixture with water

reducing range of 15% to 30%
G Combination of superplasticizer and retarding admixtures

Apart from the above classes of admixtures, there are some miscellaneous admixtures as well
which find application in grouting, bonding, water proofing, colouring agents, expansion
inducing as well as corrosion inhibiting admixtures.
Among the above seven types of admixtures, the water reducing admixtures are widely used in
concrete industry. Most of the water reducing admixtures are based on either of the following
chemicals;
i. Salts and derivatives of lignosulfonates
ii. Salts and derivatives of hydroxyl-carboxylic acids
iii. Polymeric substances
The lignosulfonates are commonly used in normal range or high range water reducing
admixtures. Hydroxyl-carboxylic based admixtures are adopted in normal range water reducers
while polymeric based admixtures are superplasticizers. Most of the chemical admixture bases
are waste products of other industrial processes (paper industry etc.) that find large scale
applications in concrete industry. The chemically reactive component in the admixtures can
range from 35-40% dispersed in aqueous medium. In case of shrinkage reducing admixtures,
the reactive component can be as high as 100% while in air entraining agents and reactive
component can be 2% (Dransfield, 2003). The quantity of water in the admixture need not be
considered for water cement ratio correction.

3. Mechanism of action of Chemical Admixtures

Chemical admixtures added to concrete mixes influence the property of concrete through
chemical reactions. The type of chemical reaction observed in the concrete mix depends on the
type of admixture added to the concrete mix and the chemical composition of the concrete
admixtures. The admixture reaction in the concrete mixes maybe any one of the
undermentioned;
1. Chemical reaction influencing the cement hydration process by accelerating or
decelerating the rate of hydration process.
2. Adsorption on cement particles causing particle dispersion (electrostatic repulsion due
to sulfonate based admixtures)
70
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

3. Influence the surface tension of water (air entrainment due to surface surfactants)
4. Affect the water rheology leading to increased plastic viscosity or improvement in mix
cohesion (steric hindrance effect due to polycarboxylate ether based admixtures)
5. Impregnate hardened concrete with special chemicals to protect concrete and improve
durability performance (corrosion protection, water repellent etc.)

Electrostatic Dispersion of cement grains in case of Steric stabilization of cement grains in case of
Sulfonate based admixtures polycarboxylate ether based admixtures

Figure 1: Types of Admixture reaction mechanism

(Source: Dransfield, 2003)

4. Admixtures and Concrete Rheology

Concrete rheology studies aim at understanding the effect of individual concrete ingredients on
the concrete properties – fresh as well as hardened state (Fig. 1).

Figure 2: Effect of concrete ingredients on Concrete Rheology

(Source: Domone, 2006)

71
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

More amount of water improves the workability of concrete (lower yield stress) but increases
the risk of segregation and/or bleeding due to reduction in cohesion of concrete ingredients
(lower plastic viscosity). Addition of dispersing type of admixtures (plasticizers and
superplasticisers) reduces the yield stress but may increase or decrease the plastic viscosity
(cohesion) depending on the secondary properties of the admixture. High strength concrete
needs cohesive mix with high cement content and lower water cement ratio. Underwater
concrete and pumped concrete need a cohesive yet flowable mix with high resistance to
segregation. Figure 2 presents influence of yield stress and plastic viscosity on different types
of concrete.

Figure 3: Effect of Concrete Rheology on different types of concrete

(Source: Domone, 2006)

5. Concrete Admixtures and their effect on Concrete properties

Admixtures added to concrete enhance the durability, workability and/or strength
characteristics of concrete. Concrete admixtures help to overcome complex site conditions such
as hot weather or cold weather concreting, pumping requirements, early strength requirements
or high workability at low water cement ratio specifications. The following section discusses
commonly used concrete admixtures and their effects on concrete properties.

5.1 Air entraining admixtures

Air entraining admixtures are added to concrete to improve its durability performance
especially free thaw resistance of concrete and deicing salt. Air entraining agents are based on
following materials;

72
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

i. Salts of wood resins (vinsol resin)

ii. Synthetic detergents
iii. Salts of sulfonated lignin
iv. Salts of petroleum acids
v. Salts of proteinaceous material
vi. Fatty and resinous acids and their salts
vii. Alkyl benzene sulfonates
viii. Salts of sulfonated hydrocarbons
These vinsol resin or sulfonated lignin salts based admixtures introduce and stabilize
microscopic air bubbles. Such air entrained concrete has improved resistance to surface scaling
caused by chemical deicers (Klieger, 1966).

5.2 Water reducing admixtures

Water reducing admixtures are added in concrete mix for different purposes either to lower
water cement ratio and increase the strength of concrete mix or obtain higher slump without
adding water or reduce cement content. Water reducers typically reduce the water content by
5% to 10%. Due to reduction in water cement ratio, the strength of concrete improves. Addition
of water reducing admixtures in concrete mixes improves its 28 day strength by 10% to 25%
as compared to concrete mixes without these admixtures. Water reducers can be lignosulfonate,
carbohydrate or hydroxylated carboxylic acid based. Certain mid-range type water reducers
can reduce water requirement by 6% for concrete mixes with slump range of 125mm to 200mm
(Nmai et al., 1998)

5.3 Retarders
Retarders are added to concrete mix to delay the rate of concrete setting. Fresh concrete at a
temperature of 30oC undergoes increased rate of hardening thereby making concrete placement
and finishing difficult. Temperature can be reduced by cooling down the concrete ingredients
(cold water or cooling aggregates). Alternatively reducers can be used though it does not reduce
the temperature. Retarders extend the concrete setting time which further reduces loss of slump
and extends concrete workability. Retarders are commonly adopted for hot weather concreting
and mass concreting works (pier foundation or oil well cementation).

5.4 Accelerators
73
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

Accelerators reduce the initial setting time of concrete ensuring higher early strength. Due to
early set, concrete has improved strength and resistance to freezing cold weather. Accelerators
also aid in fast track construction due to early deshuttering and opening of concrete pavements
for traffic. Accelerators can be chloride based (calcium chloride) or non-chloride based
(triethanolamine, sodium thiocyanate, calcium formate, calcium nitrite or calcium nitrate).
Chloride based accelerators are usually adopted in non-reinforced concrete structures. In such
cases, the amount of accelerators is limited to 2% of the mass of cement. Non-chloride based
accelerators to be adopted for reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete. Accelerators are to
be used with caution as an overdose may lead to drying shrinkage, reinforcement corrosion and
strength loss at later ages (Lackey, 1992)

5.5 High range water reducing admixtures

High range water reducing admixtures are polycarboxylate based chemicals that lead to 12%
to 30% water reduction. Concrete manufactured with high range water reducing admixtures
will exhibit increase in early age strength, reduction in chloride ion penetration and ultimate
compressive strengths in excess of 70MPa (Aitcin et al., 2015). When these admixtures are
adopted to manufacture flowable concrete, then they are termed as plasticizers or
superplasticizers. High range water reducing admixtures can significantly reduce water
requirement of concrete, but at the same time result in finishing difficulties, significant
retardation and slump loss.

5.6 Miscellaneous admixtures

Apart from the above main types of admixtures, there are several other type of admixtures that
impact fresh and/or hardened state properties of concrete. Table 3 presents the other admixtures
used in concrete manufacture.

Table 3: Admixtures used in Concrete

Type of Admixture Application in Concrete
Hydration control Comprises two part chemical system;
Stabilizer or retarder that stops the hydration of cementitious
material and activator that re-establishes normal hydration and
setting. Commonly adopted for ready mix concrete operations.

74
Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

Corrosion inhibitors Adopted for parking structures, marine structures and bridges
exposed to chloride salts. These admixtures are calcium nitrite,
sodium nitrite, dimethyl ethanolamine, amines, phosphate based.
Shrinkage reducing Adopted for concrete in bridge decks, floor slabs to minimize
formation of cracks preventing adverse environmental influence.
Colouring admixtures Natural and synthetic materials to colour concrete for aesthetic and
safety applications. To prevent adverse effects of pigments on
concrete properties, the dosage is limited to 6%.
Pumping aids These admixtures help to improve pumpability of concrete (height
upto 586m achieved in Burj Khalifa project)
Dampproofing Soap, stearate and petroleum based admixtures added to concrete
mixes with low cement content and high water cement ratio to
improve their water impermeability.
Bonding admixtures These rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, acrylic,
styrene butadiene based admixtures aid in improved bonding
between old and new concrete surfaces.

6. Conclusion
In conclusion, admixtures are added to concrete to improve its fresh state and/or hardened state
performance. Admixtures help in executing concreting operations in difficult conditions.
Adopting admixtures in concrete manufacture improves its sustainability. Addition of
admixture extends the service life of concrete due to improvement in its performance and
quality. Use of accelerators help reduce setting time, superplasticizers aid in optimizing
concrete mix design, reduce concrete porosity. Air entraining agents help improve durability
of the concrete. However, it should be noted that admixtures are not the only factor that
determine the performance of concrete. It is the concrete mix design, batching, placement and
finishing along with ambient conditions that help in achieving long term maintenance free
concrete.

75
 Construction Materials and Management, NICMAR Publication (2019-2020)

References:
Aȉtcin, P., & Wilson, W. (2015). The Sky’s the Limit: Evolution in Construction of High Rise
Buildings. Concrete India, 30(2), 15-20.
Dransfield, J. Newman, J. & Choo, B. S. (2003). Advanced Concrete Technology – Constituent
Materials. Burlington, Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier.
Domone, P. (2006). Self-Compacting Concrete: An Analysis of 11 years of case studies.
Cement & Concrete Composites, 28, 197-208.
Gandage, A., & Ram, V. (2014). Role of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Self
Compacting Concrete – A Review. Indian Concrete Journal, 88(6), 42-59.
Kett, I. (2010). Engineered Concrete Mix Design & Test Methods. Boca Raton, CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group.
Klieger, P. (1966). Air-Entraining Admixtures. Research Department Bulletin, RX 199, 1-12.
Lackey, H. (1992). Factors affecting use of Calcium chloride in Concrete. Cement Concrete &
Aggregates, ASTM, 97-100.
Nmai, C. Tomita, R. Hondo, F. & Buffenbarger, J. (1998). Shrinkage reducing admixtures.
Concrete International, 31-37.
Sika. (2013). Sika Concrete Handbook. Zurich, Sika Services.

76

View publication stats