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Civil Engineering Materials 267
Materials Technology
Concrete
Admixtures and additives
Additives
Purpose Examples
Replace Fly ash
some • Slower set, same
cement strength
Modify Blast furnace slag
properties • Less heat
Silica fume
• Higher strength
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Fly ash
Coal Fly ash (FA) is a by-product of the combustion of
pulverized coal in thermal power plants.
Diameter ranges from less than 1 micron to 150 micron. It is
generally finer than Portland cement.
The major chemical constituents in fly ash are silica, alumina
and oxides of calcium and iron.
Class F: This class of fly ash exhibits pozzolanic property but
rarely, if any, self hardening property. Contain less CaO, high
SiO2.
Class C: This class of fly ash has both pozzolanic and varying
degree of self-cementitious properties. (Most Class C fly ashes
contained more than 15% CaO)
Benefits of fly ash in concrete
Utilization of Ca(OH)2
Additional generation of C-S-H gel
Generate low heat of hydration
Blocking of capillary pores
Reduction in permeability
Higher gain of strength
Enhanced durability
+ Fly ash
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Silica fume
Silica fume is a by product of producing silicon metal or
ferrosilicon alloys.
Because of its chemical and physical properties, it is a very
reactive pozzolan.
Silica fume consists primarily of amorphous (non-crystalline)
silicon dioxide (SiO2).
The individual particles are extremely small, approximately
1/100th the size of an average cement particle.
Because of its fine particles, large surface area, and the high
SiO2 content, silica fume is a very reactive pozzolan when used
in concrete.
Silica fume
Silica fume works on two levels: the first is a chemical reaction
called the "pozzolanic" reaction.
The hydration (mixing with water) of Portland cement produces
many compounds, including calcium silicate hydrates (CSH) and
calcium hydroxide (CH).
The CSH gel is known to be the source of strength in concrete.
When silica fume is added to fresh concrete it chemically reacts
with the CH to produces additional CSH.
The benefit of this reaction is two fold; increased compressive
strength and chemical resistance.
The bond between the paste and the coarse aggregate, in the
crucial interfacial zone, is greatly increased, resulting in very
high compressive strengths.
The additional CSH produced by silica fume is more resistant to
attack from aggressive chemicals than the weaker CH.
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Ground granulated blastfurnace slag (ggbs)
Ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs) is a by-
product from the blast-furnaces used to make iron.
Technical benefits which ggbs imparts to concrete,
including:
Workability - making placing and compaction easier.
Lower early-age temperature rise, reducing the risk
of thermal cracking in large pours.
Elimination of the risk of damaging internal reactions
such as ASR.
High resistance to chloride ingress, reducing the risk
of reinforcement corrosion.
High resistance to attack by sulphate and other
chemicals.
Properties and chemical composition of Portland
cement, flyash, slag and silica fume
Properties Portland ASTM Class F Slag Silica fume
cement flyash
Specific gravity (gm/cc) 3.17 2.68 2.87 2.00
Surface area (Blaine) cm2/gm 3,170 - 4,250 250,000
Passing 45 micron sieve (%) - 90% 98% -
SiO2 21.20 55.2 39.18 93.0
Al2O3 5.24 25.3 10.18 0.2
Fe2O3 3.10 8.34 2.02 0.05
CaO 64.40 2.65 32.82 -
MgO 1.10 1.56 8.52 0.51
SO3 2.52 0.09 - 0.05
Na2O 0.23 0.58 1.14 0.2
K2O 0.57 1.39 0.30 0.22
LOI 1.22 1.6 1.0 4.15
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Admixtures
Purpose Types
Small amount used Air-Entrainment
Have specific role Set acceleration
No remedy for poor Set Retarding
mix design Workability aids
Permeability
improvement
Air-Entraining Admixtures (AEA)
Purpose
Improve workability, reduce water content
Resistance to freezing/thawing
Improve resistance to shrinkage cracking
Effects
Forms minute bubbles of air distributed uniformly
through the cement paste
Bubbles form reservoirs to absorb expansion
strains due to freezing
Slightly reduce crushing strength and density
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Set-Accelerating Admixtures (Ac)
HE Portland cements
Purpose deliver the same advantages
Counter slow setting in cold weather
Allow early release of forms
Effects
Faster set times, higher early strength
Lower final strength
Reduced tendency to bleed
Increased shrinkage and cracking, creep
Lower resistance to sulphates
Set-Retarding Admixtures (Re)
Purpose
Counter rapid setting in hot weather
Allow longer transport times
Prevent overheating in large pours
Effects
Slower set times, extended workability time
Can be used to achieve exposed aggregate
finishes
Eliminate cold construction joints
Reduced heat evolution
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Water Reducing Admixtures (WR,
WRRe, WRAc) - Plasticisers
Purpose
Improve workability of concrete without increasing
water/cement ratio – esp useful for High Strength
concretes
Effects
Wetting agents increase the flowability of the mix
Dispersal agents reduce attraction between
cement particles
Slight increase in set time
• WR – normal set time – (slight retardation)
• WRRe – Water reducing with set retardation
• WRAc – Water reducing with set acceleration
High Range Water Reducing
Admixtures - Superplasticisers
HWR or HWRRe
Purpose
Very workable, very high strength concrete
Low water/cement ratio, normal slump
Effects
No adverse effect on strength development
HWRRe – has set retarding properties
Must use with concretes > 40 MPa or silica fume
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Other Admixtures
Thickening Admixtures
Improve pumpability of concrete
Expanding Admixtures
Produce non-shrink concrete with no shrinkage
cracks
Used in grouts and repair mixes
Permeability-Reducing Admixtures
Reduces rate of movement of water through
concrete
Mix Issues
High Quality Finish
Higher proportion of fines
High Quality Control required to
achieve strength and workability
Pumping of concrete
High quality mix required
Small void ratio
– continuous grading curve
No segregation
Not excessive fines
- friction too high
Slump control
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Concrete Production
Site production
Site batch plants – expensive, good QC req’d
Raw materials, bins & silos
Weighing equipment for batching
Liquid measurement and handling
Mixers - agitators
Plant production
Normal, 3rd party QC
Specification and ordering
Strength – N20, N25, N32, N40, N50
Slump at point of delivery – 40, 60, 80, 100
Maximum aggregate size – 10, 14, 20
Method of placement – Pumping, chute
Volume (m3)
Other requirements
Air entrainment
Early age strength
Heat/Retarding/Acceleration Admixtures
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Special concretes:
High strength concrete (HSC)
Self compacting concrete (SCC)
High performance concrete (HPC)
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC)
High performance fiber reinforced cementitious
composites (HPFRCC)
Polymer modified concrete (PMC)
Geo-polymer concrete
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