Types of Concrete Admixtures

Concrete admixtures are of different types and they are as follows:

1. Water Reducing Admixtures 9. Alkali Aggregate Expansion Inhibiting

Admixtures
2. Retarding Admixtures
10. Anti-washout Admixtures
3. Accelerating Admixtures
11. Grouting Admixtures
4. Air entraining concrete admixture
12. Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures
5. Pozzolanic Admixtures
13. Bonding Admixtures
6. Damp-proofing Admixtures
14. Fungicidal, Germicidal, Insecticidal
7. Gas forming Admixtures Admixtures
8. Air detraining Admixtures 15. Coloring Admixtures

1. Water Reducing Admixtures

Water reducing admixtures, the name itself
defining that they are used to minimize the water
demand in a concrete mix. Workability is the
important property of concrete which is improved
with the addition of water but if water is added
more than required the strength and durability
properties of concrete gets affected. In addition to
increase in workability it also improves the
strength of concrete, good bond between concrete
and steel, prevents cracking, segregation,
honeycombing, bleeding etc. Water reducing
admixtures are also called as plasticizers and these
are classified into three types namely plasticizers,
mid-range plasticizers and super plasticizers.
Normal plasticizer reduces the water demand up to
10%, mid-range plasticizers reduce the water
demand up to 15% while super plasticizers reduce Fig 1: Water Reducing Admixture
the water demand up to 30%. Calcium, sodium and
ammonium lignosulphonates are commonly used plasticizers. Some of the new generation super
plasticizers are acrylic polymer based, poly carboxylate, multicarbovylatethers etc.
2. Retarding Admixtures
Retarding admixtures slow down the rate of hydration
of cement in its initial stage and increase the initial
setting time of concrete. These are also called as
retarders and used especially in high temperature zones
where concrete will set quickly. The quick setting in
some situations may lead to discontinuities in
structure, poor bond between the surfaces, creates
unnecessary voids in concrete etc. Retarders are useful
to eliminate this type of problems. Commonly used
retarding admixture is calcium sulphate or gypsum.
Starch, cellulose products, common sugar, salts of
acids are some other retarders. Most of water reducing
admixtures are also acts as retarding admixtures and Fig 2: Retarding Admixture (Gypsum)
they are called as retarding plasticizers.

3. Accelerating Admixtures 
Accelerating admixtures are used to reduce the initial
setting time of concrete. They speed up the process of
initial stage of hardening of concrete hence they are
also called as accelerators. These accelerators also
improves the strength of concrete in it early stage by
increasing the rate of hydration. Earlier hardening of
concrete is useful in several situations such as early
removal of formwork, less period of curing,
emergency repair works, for constructions in low
temperature regions etc. Some of the accelerating
admixtures are triethenolamine, calcium formate, silica
fume, calcium chloride, finely divided silica gel etc.
Calcium chloride is the cheap and commonly used
accelerating admixture. Fig 3: Accelerator (Silica Fume) 1
4. Air Entraining Concrete Admixture
Air entraining admixtures are one of the most
important inventions in concrete technology. Their
primary function is to increase the durability of
concrete under freezing and thawing conditions. When
added to concrete mix, these admixtures will form
millions of non-coalescing air bubbles throughout the
mix and improves the properties of concrete. Air
entrainment in concrete will also improve the
workability of concrete, prevents segregation and
bleeding, lower the unit weight and modulus of
elasticity of concrete, improves the chemical resistance
of concrete and reduction of cement or sand or water
content in concrete etc. Most used air entrainment
admixtures are vinsol resin, darex, Teepol, Cheecol
etc. These admixtures are actually made of Natural
wood resins, alkali salts, animal and vegetable fats and Fig 4: Freezing and Thawing Effect on Co
oils etc.

5. Pozzolanic Admixtures
Pozzolanic admixtures are used to prepare dense
concrete mix which is bets suitable for water retaining
structures like dams, reservoirs etc. They also reduce
the heat of hydration and thermal shrinkage. Best
pozzolanic materials in optimum quantity gives best
results and prevents or reduces many risks such as
alkali aggregate reaction, leaching, sulfate attack etc.
Pozzolanic materials used as admixtures are either
natural or artificial. Naturally occurring Pozzolanic
materials are clay, shale, volcanic tuffs, pumicite, etc.
and artificial pozzolans available are fly ash, silica
fume, blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, surkhi etc.

Fig 5: Fly ash

6. Damp-proofing Admixtures
Damp proofing or water proofing admixtures are used to make the concrete structure impermeable
against water and to prevent dampness on concrete surface. In addition to water proof property, they
also acts like accelerators in early stage of concrete hardening. Damp proofing admixtures are
available in liquid form, powder form, paste form etc. The main constituents of these admixtures are
aluminum sulfate, zinc sulfate aluminum chloride, calcium chloride, silicate of soda etc. which are
chemically active pore fillers.

7. Gas forming Admixtures

Aluminum powder, activated carbon, hydrogen
peroxide are generally used gas forming chemical
admixtures. When gas forming admixtures are added,
it reacts with hydroxide obtained by the hydration of
cement and forms minute bubbles of hydrogen gas in
the concrete. The range of formation of bubbles in
concrete is depends upon many factors such as
amount of admixture, chemical composition of
cement, temperature, fineness etc. The formed
bubbles helps the concrete to counteract the
settlement and bleeding problems.

Gas forming admixtures are also used to prepare

Fig 7: Activated Carbon Powder
light weight concrete. For settlement and bleeding
resistance purpose, small quantity of gas forming
admixtures which is generally 0.5 to 2% by weight of cement is used. But for making light weight
concrete larger quantity generally 100 grams per bag of cement is recommended.

8. Air detraining Admixtures

Air-detraining Admixtures are used to remove the excess air from the concrete voids. Sometimes, the
aggregates may release the gas into concrete and air entrained is more than required then this type of
admixtures are useful. Some of the mostly used air-detraining admixtures are tributyl phosphate,
silicones, water insoluble alcohols etc.

9. Alkali Aggregate Expansion Preventing Admixtures

Alkali aggregate expansion in concrete is happened by the
reaction of alkali of cement with the silica present in the
aggregates. It forms a gel like substance and cause
volumetric expansion of concrete which may lead to
cracking and disintegration. Use of pozzolanic admixtures
will prevent the alkali-aggregate reaction and in some
cases air-entraining admixtures are also useful. Generally used admixtures to reduce the risk of alkali
aggregate reaction are aluminum powder and lithium salts.

Fig 8: Effect of Alkali Aggregate Reaction on Concrete

10. Anti-washout Admixtures

Anti-washout admixtures are used in concrete especially for
under water concrete structure. It protect the concrete mix
from being washed out under water pressure. It improves
the cohesiveness of concrete. This type of admixtures are
prepared from natural or synthetic rubbers, cellulose based
thickeners etc.

11. Grouting Admixtures

Fig 9: Underwater Concreting
Grouting admixtures are added to grout materials to
improve the grout properties according to the requirement
of grout. Sometimes, there is a need of quick set grout and
sometimes there is a need of slow set grout to spread into
deep cracks or fissures. Hence, different admixtures are
used as grout admixtures based on situation. Accelerators
like calcium chloride, triethanolamine etc. are used as grout
admixtures when the grout is to be set rapidly. Similarly
retarders like mucic acid, gypsum etc. are used to slow
down the setting time of grout. Gas forming admixtures like
aluminum powder is added to grout material to counteract
the settle of foundations.
Fig 10: Grouting

12. Corrosion Preventing Admixtures

Corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete structure is general
and it is severe when the structure is exposed to saline water,
industrial fumes, chlorides etc. To prevent or to slow down the
process of corrosion preventing admixtures are used. Some of
the corrosion preventing admixtures used in reinforced
concrete are sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite
etc.

Fig 11: Corrosion of Steel in Concrete

13. Bonding Admixtures
Bonding admixtures are used to create a bond between old and
fresh concrete surfaces. In general, if fresh concrete is poured
over a hardened concrete surface, there is a chance of failure
of fresh concrete surface due to weak bond with old surface.
To make the bond stronger, bonding admixtures are added to
cement or mortar grout which is applied on the concrete
surface just before placing fresh concrete. This type of
admixtures are used for pavement overlays, screed over roof
provision, repair works etc. Bonding admixtures are water
emulsions and they are made from natural rubber, synthetic
rubbers, polymers like poly vinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate
etc.

Fig 12: Concrete Pavement Overlay

14. Fungicidal, Germicidal, Insecticidal
Admixtures
To prevent the growth of bacteria, germs, fungus on hardened
concrete structures, it is recommended that the mix should
have fungicidal, germicidal and insecticidal properties. This
properties can be developed by adding admixtures like
polyhalogenated phenols, copper compounds and dieledren
emulsions etc.

15. Coloring Admixtures Fig 13: Concrete affected by Fungi

Coloring admixtures are the pigments which produce color in the finished concrete. The admixtures
used to produce color should not affect the concrete strength. Generally coloring admixtures are
added to cement in a ball mill, then colored cement can be obtained which can be used for making
colored concrete. Some of the coloring admixtures and their resultant colors are tabulated below.

Table 1: Coloring Admixtures and their Resultant Colors

Admixture Color obtained

Iron or Red oxide Red
Hydroxides of iron Yellow
Barium manganite and Ultramarine Blue
Chromium oxide and chromium hydroxide Green
 Ferrous oxide Purple
Carbon black Black
Manganese black , Raw umber Brown

Fig 14: Colored Concrete

Concrete Admixtures
Concrete admixtures, also known as concrete additives, can improve the performance of concrete.
They are added to the concrete before or during mixing. As the most professional manufacturer of
construction chemicals in China, Kingsun company always offers high-quality concrete chemicals
and excellent services for our customers all over the world.

Different Types of Concrete Admixtures For Sale

Kingsun concrete admixtures for sale mainly include Sodium Gluconate 98% min, Sodium
Naphthalene Sulfonate(SNF/PNS/FND), Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer(PCE), Sodium
Lignosulfonate. But they have different functions and uses in concrete construction.
 1. Sodium Gluconate As Concrete Retarder
As a concrete retarder, Kingsun sodium gluconate 98% min can delay the Initial and final setting
time of concrete. In general, it can extend the concrete setting time by a few days without effect the
strength of the concrete. Of course, it can also act as a water reducing admixture to improve the
workability and the strength of concrete.

 Product Name: Sodium Gluconate  Tech Grade: Industrial Grade

 Appearance: White crystalline grain  PH Value: 6.2~7.8

 CAS No.: 527-07-1
or powder
 Molecular Formula: C6H11NaO7
 Purity %: 98% min

2. Sodium Lignosulfonate As Concrete Water Reducer

Sodium lignosulfonate has adsorption and dispersion effects on cement and can improve various
physical properties of concrete. Adding sodium lignosulphonate to concrete can reduce water
consumption by more than 13%, improve the workability of concrete, and can greatly reduce the
heat of hydration in the early stage of cement hydration. In addition, it can also be compounded with
other admixtures into early strength agents, retarders, antifreeze, pumping agent, etc.

 Product Name: Sodium  Dry Matter: 92% min

lignosulfonate  PH Value: 7.5-10.5
 Appearance: Yellow Brown Powder  CAS No.: 8061-51-6
 Lignosulphonate: 60% min  HS Code: 38040000

3. Sodium Naphthalene Sulfonate As Concrete Superplasticizer

Sodium naphthalene sulfonate has characteristics like a high water-reducing rate and little effect on
the concrete setting time. The water-reducing rate of naphthalene superplasticizer can reach 15%
25%. Besides, it can also improve the early strength and workability of concrete.

 Product Name: Sodium Naphthalene  Product Type: SNF-A/B/C

Sulfonate  Appearance: Light brown powder
 Abbreviation: SNF/PNS/FND  PH Value: 7-9
 CAS No.: 36290-04-7  HS Code: 38244010.00

4. Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer As Concrete Superplasticizer

As a new generation of high-efficiency concrete water reducer, Kingsun polycarboxylate

superplasticizer (PCE) has a high water reduction rate with a low dosage. Its water reduction rate
can be as high as 45%. It is often used to prepare high-strength and high-performance concrete.
The concrete prepared with polycarboxylate ether has good performance. Even under the condition
of a high slump, there will be no obvious segregation and bleeding phenomenon in concrete.

 Product Name: Polycarboxylate  Chloride Content,% ≤ 0.1

Superplasticizer (PCE)  Solubility: Completely Soluble
 Type: PCE Liquid, PCE Powder  Water Reducing Rate: ≥25%
 Solid Content, %: 50±1.0, 98±1.0  PH Value: 6.5-8.5, 9.0±1.0

Why We Use Admixtures in Concrete Construction?

Generally speaking, Kingsun concrete admixtures are used to give special properties to fresh or
hardened concrete. They can enhance the durability, workability, or strength characteristics of
concrete. Besides, these concrete chemicals are used to overcome different construction situations,
such as hot or cold weather placements, pumping requirements, early strength requirements, or very
low water-cement ratio specifications.

The above is the detailed introduction of various concrete admixtures. By the way, if you are going to
buy these building chemicals, please contact us to get price or leave a message below. And we are
looking forward to cooperate with you.