ENGINEERING MATERIALS

Water used in
concrete and
Admixture
Learning Outcome (Week 4)
At the end of the lecture student will be able to;

• Have knowledge and explain the basic science and

engineering fundamentals pertaining to water and
admixtures as a constituents of concrete (CO1-PO1,
PO10)

• Describe the types of water and admixture, its

properties, functions and application (CO1, CO3,-PO1)
Water used in
concrete
Introduction
• Water consist of Hydrogen and Oxygen (H2O).
• The pH value shall not be less than 6.
• Any natural water that is drinkable, no pronounced taste
or odor can be used as mixing water for making concrete.
• However, some waters that are not fit for drinking may be
suitable for concrete making, provided that they satisfy the
acceptance criteria laid by ASTM C 94.
• Water used for mixing and curing shall be clean and free
from injurious amounts of Oils, Acids, Alkalis, Salts, Sugar,
Organic materials.
• In general, water with large quantities of suspended solids,
dissolved solids or organic material should not be used.
Water used in concrete
• The function of water in concrete;
• To enable chemical reaction between cement and water which
cause setting and hardening.
• To lubricate the mixture of gravel, sand and cement to facilitate
placing.
• Excessive mixing water in concrete will bring the chemical water
(cement grout) to the surface by capillary action and this form a scum
or thin layer of chalk powder known as laitance.
• Excessive impurities in mixing water affect
• Setting time
• Concrete strength
• Cause efflorescence,
• Staining,
• Corrosion of reinforcement,
• Volume changes,
• Reduced durability
Impurities in mixing water

Laitance in concrete

Stained concrete

Efflorescence in concrete
 Impurity Effects

Alkali carbonate and Acceleration or retardation of

bicarbonate setting time
Reduction in strength
Chloride Corrosion of steel in concrete

Sulfate Expansive reactions and

deterioration of concrete
Mild effect on corrosion of steel in
concrete
Iron salts Reduction in strength
Type of Mixing Water
Sea Water
• Seawater containing up to 35,000 ppm of dissolved salts is
generally suitable as mixing water for plain concrete
• Seawater is not suitable for use in making steel reinforced
concrete and pre-stressed concrete due to high risk of steel
corrosion.

Acid Water
• Acid waters may be accepted as mixing water on the basis of their
pH values (pH < 3.0 should be avoided).

Alkaline Water
• Waters with sodium hydroxide concentrations up to 0.5 % and
potassium hydroxide in concentrations up to 1.2 % by weight of
cement has no significant effect on strength
• The possibility for increased alkali-aggregate reactivity should be
considered before using the alkaline water as mixing water.
Industrial wastewater
• Cause reduction in compressive strength, generally not greater
than 10 % to 15 %
• Wastewaters from tanneries, paint factories, coke plants, and
chemical and galvanizing plants should not be used because it
may contain harmful impurities.
Admixture
Introduction
• Admixtures are the material other than water, aggregate or
cement.
• These admixtures are added to concrete immediately before
or during mixing of concrete.
• Admixture are formulated chemical compound that are used
to modify certain properties of concrete to make the
concrete more suitable for the work at hand, more economy
and saving energy.
• In addition to that, it is also function as to compensate for
some deficiencies of concrete properties.
• Admixtures should not be used when similar results can be
obtained by following good design and concrete practices
• Precautions should be considered when using
admixtures:
• Admixture should conform to relevant BS/ASTM
specifications.
• Follow manufacturer instruction regarding dosage.
• Ensure that reliable procedures are established for
batching of admixture.
• Consider the effects of admixture on other concrete
properties.
Types of admixture
Chemical admixtures Mineral admixtures
• Type of chemical • Mineral admixtures is very fine-grained
materials, added to the concrete mix.
admixtures:
• It is refer to admixtures with mineral base
• Accelerators used to improved the properties of
• Retarders concrete or as a replacement for Portland
• Water-reducing cement (blended cements).
• • Generally considered as mineral
Air-entraining
admixtures that have pozzolanic or latent
• Superplasticizer hydraulic properties.
• Polymers and latexes • Type of mineral admixtures:
• Pozzolanic materials
• Silica fume(SF)
• Fly ash (FA)
• Ground-granulated Blast-furnaced Slag
(GGBS)
• High reactivity Metakaolin (HRM).
Types of chemical admixtures
1. Accelerating admixtures
• There are 2 groups, setting accelerators and setting and hardening
accelerators
• Setting accelerators reduce setting time and suitable for rapid
emergency repair work involving water leakage
• Setting and hardening accelerators increase the rate of both setting
and early strength development.
• Set back: ultimate strength reduce, effect of creep and dry
shrinkage, corrosion and poor sulphate resistance.
• Example of the chemical used are calcium chloride, bromides,
carbonates, calcium acetates, silicates, etc.
• Maximum dosage should be less 1% by weight of the Portland
cement
• Should not be used where progressive corrosion of steel
reinforcement can occur.
Hardening Accelerating Admixture
• Water-reducing rate is 10-15%.
• Early strength results are obvious, the concrete strength
increased 50-70% 3 days, 7 days strength increased 40% -60%,
28 days strength can increase 20-40%.
• Concrete water-cement ratio and slump maintaining
essentially the same situation, can save about 10% of cement,
and concrete strength of 28 days did not reduce, the early
strength increase 50-70% than non-doped.
• Powder for light gray, liquid for brown. Powder and liquid are
slightly different in terms of performance, liquid is better than
powder, and the final strength is not reduced or increased
slightly.
• Usage:
Powders commonly used dosage of 1.0%-2.0% for the cement
consumption, liquid commonly used dosage of 1.5-2.5% for
the cement consumption.
2. Retarding admixtures
• These type of agent are used to counteract the accelerating
effect of hot weather on concrete setting where high
temperature can reduce setting and hardening times which is
important to prevent the formation of cold-joints, allows time
for steel-fixing and compensates the time lost in transit of
ready-mixed concrete.
• High temperatures often cause an increased rate of hardening
which makes placing and finishing difficult.
• Retarders keep concrete workable during placement and delay
the initial set of concrete.
• Most retarders also function as water reducers and may
entrain some air in concrete.
• Prolong the plasticity of concrete
• Overdose can cause cement never set.
3. Water-reducing admixtures
• Allows the cement content to be reduced in proportion to the reduction
in the water content.
• Increased strength and most type is water soluble
• The water that the admixture contains becomes part of the mixing water
in concrete and is added to the total weight of water in the design of the
mix.
• The proportion of mortar to coarse aggregates should always remain the
same when the admixtures is used.
• Lowers water required by 5 to 10 % to obtain a given slump. If reduction
of 15 to 30% then it is called super plasticizers.
• When water is added to cement, a well disperse system is not achieved
because water has high surface tension and cement particles tend to
cluster together or form flocs (flocculates).
• Solid particles carry surface charge and this cause it to attract and
trapped water in between.
• WR admixtures neutralize the surface charge so that all the particles
carry a uniform charge and hence repel each other (deflocculates).
• The repelling effects reduce the viscosity of the paste and improve
workability.
Lignosulphonate base water reducing admixture
• This agent used as normal water reducing cement admixture for general purpose
ready mix concrete and concrete containing fly ash.
• Excellent plasticizing properties.
• High early and final strength providing strong R.C.C. bond making and corrosion
resistant agent.
• Excellent waterproofing properties.
• Very low sulphate and chloride contains.
• Offers good strength to construction.
Benefits:
• Reduces the water contents by 8 to 12%.
• Decreases the concrete porosity.
• Increases the concrete strength as less water is required for the concrete mixture
to remain workable.
• Reduces the diffusivity of aggressive agents in the concrete and so improves the
durability of concrete.
• Offers excellent finish to surface.
• Speed up the hydration (hardening) of the concrete.
• Increase the workability of plastic or "fresh" concrete, allowing it be placed more
easily, with less consolidating effort.
• Improve pump ability, thicken the paste, and reduce the tendency of dewatering.
• Makes concrete and plaster remarkable.
• Provides resistance to sewage water, sea water, acid rains, salty atmosphere etc.
4. Air-entraining admixtures
• These agent are used to increase workability of concrete mix
during placing and increase the frost resistance of the finish
product.
• Produce minute bubbles 1 mm in diameter or smaller in concrete
during mixing.
• The amount of admixtures required to the mix is depends on
shape and grading of aggregate used.
• The finer the aggregates the higher dosage is required.
• The air entraining agent can improve the concrete workability,
reduce the concrete mix segregation, weeping, enhance the
concrete durability and the frost resistance.
• Generally applied the winter construction concrete, the
impervious concrete, mixes in advanced concrete, the slip form
concrete, the pump concrete, the roller compaction concrete and
the lightweight concrete.
• As well as in water conservancy project such as sea labor, port
labor and road engineering.
• Concrete is susceptible to damage by freeze-thaw cycles when
it is in a saturated or near saturated state. Without air-
entraining admixtures, concrete cannot be used in pavements,
dams, foundations etc.
• Air-entraining admixtures caused the mixing water to foam
resulting in millions of tiny air bubbles to be uniformly spaced
throughout the paste.
• These voids (0.25 – 1mm Ø) are only observable through the
microscope. The spacing of the voids is the critical measure of
the effectiveness of the admixture. These voids are do not
easily filled with water even when the concrete is saturated
• Air-entraining good for frost protection, thus improve
durability, workability and reduce bleeding and segregation in
concrete.
• Excessive air-entraining agent can lower strength and reduce
freeze thaw resistance of concrete.
5. Superplasticizer (SP)
• High range water reducing chemical admixtures.
• Reducing water content in concrete mix while
simultaneously increase the slump in the range of 260
mm or more.
• A dosage is about 1 to 2.5% of weight of cement.
• Higher dosage can result in a reduction in compressive
strength unless the cement content is increased to
balance this reduction effect.
• SP decreasing surface tension of water and by
equidirectional charging of the cement particle to
increase workability.
 Naphthalene superplasticizer Amino-superplasticizer Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer

• Dosage for the cementitious • Water-reducing rate is 20- • Appearance: light powder.
material content of 0.5 - 30%. • PH value : 6-8.
1.5%. • Plasticizing function is • Suggested mixed amount:
• Reducing the water rates up strong, make concrete 0.5 -1.5% of the cementing
to 12-28%. slump from 3 - 5cm up to material amount.
• The role of early strength 20cm or more. • Applied in the high strength
and are obvious,3 days • The role of enhance is concrete, high fluidity
strength of concrete significant, 1 to 3 days of concrete, low cement
increases by 60 - 130%,7 concrete strength refractory concrete and
days strength increased 40- increased by 50 ~ 80%, 28- grouting materials, steam
60%,28 days can increase day strength increased curing concrete, high
20-40%. from 25 to 60%. strength mortar, gypsum
• Still have improving for product, self-flowing
long-term strength ground, and stuffing
material etc.
6. Polymers and latexes
• It is manufactured from a controlled blend of special sands,
cements and natural rubber latex and synthetic polymers to
give a high quality concrete product
• Made through the addition of resin and hardener as admixture
in concrete mix.
• The optimum polymer/cement ratio by weight is 0.3 to 0.45.
• Polymer admixtures produce concrete of very high strength.
For example, compressive strength of 103 MPa or higher and
10.3 MPa of tensile splitting strengthor higher.
• The admixture will polymerized concrete through
• Modification of concrete property through water reduction
in the field.
• Impregnation and irradiation under elevated temperature.
Flexibiliser
• Used with cement based tile adhesives and grouts.
• It improves deformability, water resistance and bond strength and will
permit tiling where there is limited movement or vibration.
• Flexibiliser can also be used to prime porous and difficult substrates
prior to tiling or screeding and allows fixing directly to glazed surfaces.
Admixture & Primer
• Water based polymer emulsion
• Improves adhesion
• Improves flexibility
• Improves water resistance
Professional SLC 206 Latex
• Fast setting and smoothing underlayment.
• It is manufactured from a controlled blend of special sands, cements
and natural rubber latex and synthetic polymers to give a high quality
flooring product which is self-levelling and smoothing.
• For use in domestic and commercial situations such as offices, dwellings,
schools and areas with similar loads and traffic.
Types of mineral admixtures
1. Pozzolanic materials
• Pozzolana was named due to the pyroclastic rocks occur in a placed
name Pozzouli.
• It is an inorganic materials, either natural or artificial which harden
in water when mixed with calcium hydroxide or with materials that
can released calcium hydroxide (Portland cement clinker)
• Pozzolans play an important role when added to Portland cement
because they usually increase the mechanical strength and
durability of concrete structures.
• The most important effects in the cementitious paste microstructure
are changes in pore structure produced by the reduction in the grain
size caused by;
i. Pozzolanic reactions
ii. Pozzolanic effect
iii. Filler effect.
Pozzolanic index
2. Silica Fume (SF)
• A by-product of the production of silicon and ferrosilicon alloys.
• The SF particle size is 100 times smaller than FA which results in a
higher surface to volume ratio and a much faster pozzolanic
reaction.
• SF is used to increase strength and durability of concrete, but
generally requires the use of superplasticizers for workability.
3. Fly Ash (FA)
• A by product of coal fired from electric fire plant.
• It is used to partially replace Portland cement (by up to 60% by
mass).
• The properties of fly ash depend on the type of coal burnt.
• In general, silicious fly ash is pozzolanic (class F), while calcareous
fly ash has latent hydraulic properties (Class C).
4. Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS or GGBS):
• A by-product of steel production is used to partially replace
Portland cement (by up to 80% by mass).
• It has latent hydraulic properties to improve workability and
strength of concrete.
5. High reactivity Metakaolin (HRM)
• Metakaolin produces concrete with strength and durability similar
to concrete made with silica fume.
• While silica fume is usually dark gray or black in color, high
reactivity metakaolin is usually bright white in color, making it the
preferred choice for architectural concrete where appearance is
important.
Physical of mineral admixture

From view of SEM image

Different of colours in powder form

Physical and chemical
properties of mineral admixture
Standard specifications requirements
BS12:1996 BS 6588:1996 BS 6610:1996
Fineness x≤225 m2/kg x≤225 m2/kg x≤225 m2/kg
Chemical Composition
LSF 0.66≤x ≤1.02 - -
IR x≤1.5% x≤4.0% x≤4.0%
MgO x≤4.0% x≤3.0% x≤3.0%
SO3 x≤2.5 if C3A is 5% or - -
LOI in less x≤5.0% x≤5.5%
tropical climates x≤3.0% if C3A is more
than 5%
x≤4.0%

Compressive strength of x≥13 N/mm2 at x≥8 N/mm2 at x≥8 N/mm2 at 7

concrete cubes days
3 days 3 days
8≤x≤16 N/mm2 at
13≤x≤29 N/mm2 at 28 8≤x≤22 N/mm2 at 28 28 days
days days
Setting times
Initial x ≥45 min. x ≥45 min. x ≥45 min.
Final x≤10 hour x≤10 hour x≤10 hour
Soundness x≤10mm x≤10mm x≤10mm
Proportion of PFA - 15%≤x≤35% 35%≤x≤50%
Effect of mineral admixtures on concrete
properties
1. Compressive strength
2. Porosity
3. Gas diffusivity
4. Gas permeability
4. Permeability (Chloride migration)
Application of mineral
admixtures
• Binary Blended cement (BBC) are compound of Ordinary
Portland cement uniformly blended (either in dry or wet
condition) with mineral admixture at optimum percentage
with attention to improve concrete properties.
• Blended cement will reduce the consumption of OPC and
increase the used of industrial waste material such as FA, SF,
GGBS, RHA etc.
Binary blended cement
Exercise 5 LO
At the end of the session student will
• Be able to name the different types of water and admixtures
• Be able to compare and contrast the different type of water
and admixtures
• Be able to describe the characteristic of different type of water
and admixtures
EXERCISE 5 (CO1, PO1)
1. State the properties of water that is suitable fro making
concrete.
2. State the different types of admixtures use in concrete.
3. List and describe the different types of admixture that are
used in concrete that is normally being use to improve
workability.
4. Discuss the test that can be carried out to examine the
suitability of water for mixing concrete.
Additional notes on concrete
admixtures
Miscellaneous admixtures
I. Bonding admix – bonding between old and new concrete or concrete and
other materials.
II. Grouting admix – concrete based grouts which prevent bleeding and
segregations.
• Pozzolith – used as water reducer.
• Plastisizer – used to make concrete appear ‘wet’ without changing water/cement
ratio.
• Calcium chloride – used to accelerate concrete setting time. Normally used in
cold conditions.
• Retarder – used to retard concrete setting time. Normally used in hot conditions.
• Fibre strand reinforcement – used to reduce plastic shrinkage crack. Also as
supplements for secondary concrete reinforcement.
• Fly ash – used to strengthen and enhance finishing.
• Concrete sealing compound – used to seal surface from strain and road salt. Very
important for new concrete.
• Expansion joint – used to cushion expansion of concrete adjacent to stationary
materials.
Specification on admixtures
by Standard
4.5 Admixtures
• Where the concrete contains one or more admixtures in addition to
an air-entraining agent for freeze/thaw resistance, the air void
characteristics of the combination of admixtures shall be tested in
accordance with BS EN 480-11 using the admixture supplier’s
standard materials. The air void spacing factor, measured on
specimens of hardened concrete made with reference concrete III in
accordance with BS EN 480-1 and an air content within ± 1% of the
target, shall be not be greater than 0.20 mm.
• NOTE 1 There is no requirement to use the concrete producer’s
constituent materials, other than the admixtures, as any adverse
interactions between admixtures are shown by the test in BS EN
480-11 using standard materials.
• NOTE 2 Initial tests as required by BS EN 206-1:2000, 5.2.6 for air-
entrained concretes containing more than one admixture need only
determine the air content to assess the performance of the air void
system.
6.2.3 Admixtures
• Admixtures shall conform to BS EN 934-2.
• Calcium chloride or admixtures based on chlorides shall not be used
in designated concretes.
• Accelerating and retarding admixtures shall be used only where an
accelerated or retarded set has been specified (see BS 8500-1:2002,
4.2.3).
Thank you