Admixtures are chemicals besides cement and pozzolana, added to concrete at the mixing stage to enhance the properties of the mix, such as workability, strength, etc. The use of this technology helps structural engineers meet new challenges every day
Admixtures can be used to lower the cost of using concrete for construction or to guarantee that the cured concrete has particular desired qualities or features.
Admixtures can be used as a great option to try to avert failure if issues with the concrete occur during construction.
A variety of additives are now used in concrete mixtures to improve their qualities. It may be categorized into the following categories based on the specific function or action on the tangible property: Accelerator, Retarder, Superplasticizer, Water reducing admixtures, Air entraining, Shrinkage reducing, Corrosion Inhibitors, Alkali-aggregate reaction inhibiting.
Accelerator: Accelerators facilitate the setting of concrete, also known as speeding up the hydration process. Additionally, they promote strength development earlier in the set time of a slab.
Retarding: The purpose of retarding admixtures is to slow the rate at which concrete sets. Slowing the initial setting time allows the concrete mixture to stay in its fresh mix state for a longer period of time before it hardens. Concrete placement or grouting that requires complex techniques benefit from the use of retarders.
In order to produce durable, watertight concrete, it is essential to use integrated crystalline waterproofing technology. By plugging or blocking the natural pores, capillaries, and microcracks within concrete, ICW prevents water from passing through.
Superplasticizer: Concrete is made stronger with the addition of superplasticizers (SPs), also known as high range water reducers. Concrete produced with plasticizers has approximately 15% less water content. There is a 30% or more reduction in water content when using superplasticizers.
Shrinkage reducing: In shrinkage-compensating concrete, initial expansion, if properly restrained, counters the effects of drying shrinkage by offsetting strains. It is possible to reduce cracking and structural movement caused by drying shrinkage by using shrinkage-compensating concrete.
