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Concrete Admixtures - FAQs
For more than 50 years, Grace Construction Products has improved the quality of concrete by developing innovative, value-added Concrete Admixtures and backing that up with a superb level of technical service and support for its customers. The following list of frequently asked questions has been developed to address some of the many issues surrounding the use of concrete additives. For additional help or inquiries, contact your Grace Concrete Admixtures Sales Representative.
Click on the question to view response.
Air-entrainment should be specified for all exterior concrete placed in environments subjected to freezing and thawing. Air-entraining admixtures provide freeze-thaw resistance and improved durability, along with finishability enhancements and yield control. Air-entraining admixtures impart these benefits to concrete by purposely entraining microscopic air bubbles into the paste of the concrete.
The use of a properly designed concrete mix with carefully selected materials, as recommended by ACI Committee report 224 on cracking, will help minimize drying shrinkage cracking. Adequate jointing and proper curing will also serve to minimize drying shrinkage cracking. A new concrete admixture classified as a "shrinkage reducing admixture" can reduce drying shrinkage by up to 50%. See our section on Eclipse®. Protecting the concrete surface from drying before final set will help to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking. The use of polyproylene fibres such as Grace MicroFiber™ will give additional protection.
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The inclusion of 15-35% entrained air in CLSM improves flowability, minimizes segregation and settlement, lowers unit weight (90-110 pcf), and controls ultimate strength development. In addition, air, gas and water permeability properties will improve as CLSM air contents increase.
Pre-pour planning and special precautions are required to assure successful placement of concrete in hot weather. These precautions may include lowering material temperatures, utilization of retarding admixtures, rapid transport and placement, and proper curing. See ACI Committee report 305 on Hot Weather Concreting.
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At low temperatures, all concrete can potentially freeze. If it does not have sufficient strength before it freezes, permanent damage can occur. The use of chloride and non- chloride accelerating admixtures at high addition rates can help the concrete achieve sufficient early strength to prevent the damaging effects of freezing temperatures. The recommendations of ACI Committee report 306, Cold Weather Concreting should be followed.
A well designed, durable, low permeability concrete mix, with an appropriate water to cementitious materials ratio (w/cm) using a high range water reducer will provide some protection against corrosion of embedded metals due to the presence of chlorides. Additional protection can be obtained by further reducing the permeability of the concrete with the use of Force 10,000® microsilica admixture and including DCI® Corrosion Inhibitor for long term durability.
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Because water is essential for the hydration of cement in concrete, curing is the single most important action that a contractor or home owner can take to prolong the life of a concrete structure. Curing significantly impacts long term concrete properties including: durability, strength, surface integrity, watertightness, and resistance to freezing and thawing and deicer salts. In addition, proper curing can prevent common surface defects such as: dusting, plastic shrinkage cracking, and crazing or pattern cracking.
Designing low permeability concrete, utilization of low alkali cement, proper curing, and reductions of water flow to the concrete surface will minimize the potential for efflorescence. In addition, the use of a damp proofing product such as Darapel® can help reduce the incidence of effloresence.
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Keep concrete within recommended slump ranges, use properly air-entrained concrete, and use sufficient vibration for proper consolidation. The use of high range water reducer rather than water to produce high slumps will reduce the tendency for concrete to segregate.
ASTM C494 specifies the requirements for seven chemical admixture types. They are:
Type A: Water-reducing admixtures
Type B: Retarding admixtures
Type C: Accelerating admixtures
Type D: Water-reducing and retarding admixtures
Type E: Water-reducing and accelerating admixtures
Type F: Water-reducing, high range admixtures
Type G: Water-reducing, high range, and retarding admixtures
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