Concrete Admixtures

Link to article on company website: https://buildr-app.com/2019/11/01/concrete-admixtures/

Concrete Admixtures

by Lydia McNeill | Nov 1, 2019

When water can’t do the job alone, admixtures are a helpful tool to change the properties of concrete. Usually a liquid and sometimes a powder, they are added when mixing concrete on site. From increasing workability, to accelerating set time, admixtures can make the difference needed to create the most suitable concrete for the job.

The 6 main types of admixtures:

Plasticizers: Admixtures that reduce the amount of water needed in a mix.

Superplasticisers: Similar to plasticizers, but with a cape on!

Air-entraining admixtures: Used to prevent concrete cracking under freezing conditions.

Water-resisting (water-proofing) admixtures: Used to stop water going into the concrete and causing rusting on steel formwork, or harmful chemicals from affecting the concrete.

Retarding admixtures: Allow concrete to stay in its fresh state for longer, great for the summer months.

Accelerating admixtures: Increase the set time of concrete, great for cold winter months and where the customer needs to work on the concrete ASAP!

What BUILDR uses

Plasticizers (also known as water-reducing admixtures) create greater workability in concrete. They are great for concretes with a high slump class because you can reduce the amount of water in the mix without reducing concrete strength, or increasing the likelihood of segregation. BUILDR provide these admixtures in the necessary strength mixes, free of charge!

Superplasticizers work in a similar way as plasticizers, but with a bit more of a kick. As they are more effective than plasticizers they are often used in: pump mixes, mixes with steel reinforcement and self-compacting concrete.

Air-entraining concrete can be extremely helpful for concrete that is going to be outdoors or in cold conditions. The admixture entrains air bubbles into the concrete, so that water has somewhere to expand into when freezing, reducing the likelihood of cracking.

Use the app or contact us

Our questions in the app will help us find out if you need an admixture, as we ask the relevant questions, so that you don’t have to! Our customer service team have a depth of knowledge of technical concrete, so if you ever have any queries, we are in the office from: 8am-

4:30pm Monday to Friday, on 0330 123 2065.