CONCRETE ADMIXTURES AND AGENTS

Versatile and efficient, modern-day products guarantee major time and cost-saving advantages as they customize and adapt concrete for virtually every type of application. Admixtures fall into one of six categoreis: air entraining, water reducing, retarding, accelerating, pozzolans, and workability agents. Air entrainers produce small air bubbles in the concrete to improve workability and placement with reduced water content. Darvair, a liquid that is typically added to a mix in rates from 3/4 to 3 fl oz per 100 lb. of cement, is designed for use in mass concrete and in high cement factor, low-slump paving mixtures. Master Builders MB-VR (water soluble) and Agent No. 2001 are other air entraining admixtures discussed here. Water reducing admixtures lower cement content requirements and improve workability. Plastiment concrete densifier, Pozzolith polymer admixture ready to use solutions from Grace's WRDA line, and imported water reducers are reviewed. Retarding admixtures (extend setting time) discussed here include Pozzolith-R (Retarder), Sikamix 100 Plastiment, retarders in Grace's Daratard line, and a latex-adding process for reducing and preventing slump loss. Accelerators are used primarily in cold weater to speed cement hydration to prevent frost damage; these include Trimtex accelerator which can be used for all specs that call for calcium chloride solutions, and the Darex-Set Accelerator admixture which can be used when potential corrosion of embedded or stressed steel must be avoided. Workability agents ease the mixing, handling and placing of concrete; such agents include Poxxolith polymer type admixture, the Darex pumping aid, and Castle Chemical's CPA. Agents designed to improve concrete include numerous products - many of them multipurpose sealers, coatings and bonding materials. Servisiced/Horn clear or White-pigmented concrete compounds, waterproofing compounds, Stearox 100, and Clear-Pruf, Sikagard 663, epoxies, Sikamix 122 Grant-Aid, Daraweld-C, and Bond-E are some concrete improving agents which are discussed here.

• Corporate Authors:

  McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

  330 West 42nd Street
  New York, NY  United States  10036
• Authors:
  • Donnelly, C W
• Publication Date: 1975-9

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 63-71
• Serial:
  • Construction Methods and Equipment
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerating agents; Admixtures; Air entraining agents; Calcium chloride; Cement content; Cold weather construction; Concrete placing; Corrosion protection; Epoxides; Latex; Polymers; Pozzolan; Retarders (Chemistry); Slump test; Water reducing agents; Workability
• Uncontrolled Terms: Slumps
• Old TRIS Terms: Agents; Epoxy
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127475
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM