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Concrete Materials: Chemical Admixtures

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Concrete Design & Air-Entraining Admixtures

Production
Concrete Air-entraining admixtures are used to stabilize microscopic
Construction air bubbles in concrete. Proper air-entrainment, with
PCA Research appropriate volume and spacing factor, will dramatically
improve the durability of concrete exposed to moisture
Durability during cycles of freezing and thawing. Entrained air also
Tech Support improves concretes resistance to surface scaling caused by
chemical deicers.
Stay Informed
Resources Air-entrained concrete contains
minute air bubbles that are
CTT Newsletter
distributed uniformly throughout the cement paste.
FAQs
Entrained air can be produced in concrete by use of
an air-entraining cement, by introduction of an
air-entraining admixture, or by a combination of both
methods. An air-entraining cement is a portland
cement with an air-entraining addition interground
with the clinker during manufacture. An
air-entraining admixture, on the other hand is added
directly to the concrete materials either before or
during mixing.

Specifications and methods of testing air-entraining admixtures are given in

ASTM C260 and C233 (AASHTO M 154 and T 157). Both the total volume of air
and the spacing factor (average distance between a point in the paste and the
edge of an air void) are important to providing resistance to freezing and thawing.
Air-entrainment is affected by concrete materials selection, mixing, and
placement methods as summarized in the following table. Applicable
requirements for air-entraining cements are given in ASTM C150 and AASHTO M
85. See Manual on Control of Air Content in Concrete for more information.

Effects of Concrete Materials and Production Practices on Air

Entrainment
Material/Practice Change Effect
Increase in cement content

Cement Increase in fineness

Increase in alkali content

Fly Ash (especially with high carbon)

Silica Fume
SCMs
Slag with increasing fineness

Metakaolin

Increase in maximum size

Aggregates
Sand content

Water reducers

Chemical Admixtures Retarders

Accelerators

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High-range water reducers

W/CM Increase W/CM

Increase in slump up to 150 mm (6
in.)
Slump High slump (> 150 mm or 6 in.)
Low slump concrete (< 75 mm or 3
in.)
Batching

Increased mixer capacity

Production
Mixer speeds to 20 rpm

Mixer time

Transport
Transport and
Long hauls
delivery
Retempering

Belt conveyors

Pumping
Placing
and Wet-mix shotcrete
finishing
Prolonged internal vibration

Excessive finishing

Key: decrease in air content increase in air content no significant change

(Source: Admixtures for Use in Concrete, Thomas and Wilson 2002)

Mechanisms

Air-entraining admixtures stabilize air bubbles in concrete by reducing the surface

tension at the air-water interface. The shearing action of the mixer and
aggregates will entrain and divide air into finely divided bubbles surrounded by
the stabilizing agent. It is critical that sufficient mixing time be allowed for the air
bubbles to be generated and stabilized. Trial mixtures or prior experience with the
job materials and job equipment is necessary to determine the proper dosage and
minimum mixing time. Fresh concrete testing (ASTM C231 or C173; AASHTO T
152 or T 196) during construction will confirm the proper volume of air. A
relatively new technique, known as the air-void analyzer (AVA), shows promise as
a tool for determining the spacing factor in fresh concrete. (For AVA references, click
here.)

Air voids in concrete improve durability by reducing stresses

associated with freezing water in pores. The expansion as
water converts from liquid to solid upon freezing creates a
pressure on the remaining liquid. Entrained air provides
relief for this pressure, by providing space for the water to
flow into. Without air voids, the pressure creates stress on
the concrete, crreating cracks which cumulatively begin
disrupting the concrete.

Other Effects

Generally, for every 1% entrained air, concrete loses about 5% of its compressive
strength (Whiting and Nagi, 1998). However, in addition to providing saturated
freeze-thaw protection and improved salt scaling resistance, entrained air
provides several other benefits: increased workability, reduced water demand,
decreased segregation and bleeding, and reduced permeability.

Additional information on air in concrete:

"It's Only Air-But It's Really Important"

"The Air-Void System in Concrete"

"Measuring the Air Content of Low-Slump Concrete"

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"Guidelines for Control of Air Content in Concrete"

"Control of Air Content in Concrete"

"Benefits of Air Entrainment in High-Performance Concrete"

More on the Air Void Analyzer (AVA):

Aarre, T. Concrete Technology Today, 1998 (PDF)

AASHTO Technology Implementation Group

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