REVIEWER

ADMIXTURES 6. WORKABILITY AGENTS

FUNCTIONS: - usual practice to increase workability is by increasing
cement content or the amount of fine aggregates
1. AIR-ENTRAINING ADMIXTURES - the best workability agent is ENTRAINED AIR, it acts like a
- to entrain microscopic air bubbles in concrete lubricant
- primary active ingredients are alkyl benzene sulfonateor Conditions requiring improved workability:
polyethylene oxide, detergents, or salts of fatty acids • harsh fresh concrete due to certain aggregate
EFFECTS OF ENTRAINING AIR BUBBLES: characteristics such as particle shape, improper grading or
✓ improve the durability of concrete’s resistance to surface faulty mix proportions
scaling that may result in the use of deicers • Concrete that is to be placed in heavily reinforced members
✓ improve workability and reduces or eliminates segregation or placed by pumping or tremie
and bleeding
7. SUPERPLASTICIZERS
2. WATER-REDUCING ADMIXTURES - effect is of relatively short duration, 30 – 60 minutes and is
- reduces the quantity of water to produce concrete of a followed by a rapid loss in workability
given consistency or to increase the slump of the concrete Ways to produce superplasticized concrete
for a given water content • FLOWING CONCRETE – produced at normal water-cement ratios,
- can also retard the setting time of concrete and entrain air but so workable that it can be placed with little or no vibrations or
- increases strength since water is reduced provided cement compaction and still be free of excessive bleed water or segregation
content and slump are kept the same • HIGH-STRENGTH CONCRETE – produced at much lower than normal
SIDE EFFECT: water-cement ratios and with workability in the ranges specified for
✓ increases the drying shrinkage consolidation by internal vibration

3. RETARDING ADMIXTURES 8. DAMPPROOFING AND PERMEABILITY –REDUCING AGENTS

- used to retard the rate of setting of concrete due to high - to achieve water-tight concrete it has to be sound, dense
temperature with water-cement ratio of less than 0.50 by weight and it
➢ High temperature can be reduced by cooling mixing water is properly placed in cured
or the aggregates or both - materials include soaps, stearates and petroleum products
PURPOSES OF RETARDERS: - sometimes used to reduce the transmission of moisture
➢ To offset the accelerating effect of hot weather on the through concrete that is in contact with water or damp
setting of concrete earth
➢ To delay the initial set of concrete or grout when difficult or - may not be effective when used in concretes that are in
unusual conditions of placement occur contact with water under pressure
• Placing concrete in large piers and foundation
• Cementing oil wells 9. BONDING ADMIXTURES
• Pumping grout or concrete over considerable - water emulsions of any several organic materials including
distances rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, acrylics and
➢ To reduce water butadiene-styrene copolymers
➢ To entrain some air in concrete - are either added to the Portland cement mixtures or
SIDE EFFECT: applied to the surface of the old concrete to increase the
➢ Reduces strength at early age bond strength between old and new concrete
- added to mixture in proportions equivalent to 5% to 20% by
4. ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES weight of cement
- used to accelerate strength development of concrete at an
early age 10. GROUTING AGENTS
- calcium chloride is the most commonly used accelerating - to stabilize foundations, fill cracks and joints in concrete
admixture; it is added in solution form as part of the mixing works, cement oil wells, fill cores of masonry walls, grout
water to be assured of complete mixing tendons and anchor bolts and preplaced aggregates
- amount added should be no more than 2% by weight of
cement 11. GAS-FORMING AGENTS
EFFECTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE OVERDOSE - used to cause a slight expansion prior to hardening
• placement problem/rapid stiffening - used in confined area in small quantities such as under
• increase drying shrinkage machine bases or in post-tensioning ducts or prestressed
• corrode reinforcement concrete
• cause loss of strength at later ages - also used in large quantities to produce lightweight cellular
Calcium chloride is not recommended under the ff conditions: concrete of fresh mixture, the alkali content of the cement
• in concrete subjected to alkali-aggregate reaction and other variable
• in nuclear-shielding concrete
• in floor slabs intended to receive dry –shake metallic CURING METHODS AND MATERIALS:
finishes 1. Methods that maintain the presence of mixing water in the
• in hot weather concrete during early hardening
A. PONDING OR IMMERSION
5. POZZOLANS - applied on flat surfaces like pavement, sidewalks, floor
- a siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material, which in slabs
itself possesses little or no cohesion or no cementitious - used only on small jobs where earth or sand dikes are
values but will, in finely divided form and in the presence of placed around the perimeter of the concrete surface will
moisture, chemically react with calcium hydroxide at hold a pond of water within the contained area
ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing
cementitious properties B. SPRAYING OR FOGGING
- used in concrete to help reduce internal temperatures like - application of fine mist continuously through the system of
in massive structures nozzles or sprays
- used to reduce or eliminate potential expansion from alkali- - Ample water supply and careful supervision are required
reactive aggregates Caution:
- improves the sulfate resistance to concrete • concrete must be prevented from alternate cycles of drying
SIDE EFFECTS: and wetting since it causes crazing or cracking
➢ substantially reduce the 28-day strength of concrete thus • concrete erosion must not occur for newly finished
requiring longer curing period in favorable curing concrete
temperature C. WET COVERINGS
➢ use of fly ash with excess amounts of carbon, silica, alkalis, c.1. Burlap (Coarse cloth woven from jute, hemp or similar rough
sulfur, etc. can adversely affect the strength, air content thread used for making sack or rope)
and durability of concrete - must be free of any substance that is harmful to concrete
or may cause discoloration
 REVIEWER
C.2. Wet, moisture-containing fabrics 1. CURING IN LIVE STEAM AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE – for
- placed as soon as concrete has sufficiently hardened to enclosed cast-in-place structures and precast concrete units
prevent surface damage • tarpaulins are frequently used to form enclosure
- coverings should be kept moist throughout the curing • steam curing temperature above 180 oF (82 oC) should be
period avoided. This is uneconomical and may result in undue
- entire surface should be covered including edges of slab reduction in ultimate strength
C.3. Wet coverings of sand, earth or sawdust • excessive rates of heating and cooling should be avoided to
- placed in layer of 2 in (50 mm) thick and evenly distributed prevent volume changes from damaging the concrete
over the previously moistened surface of concrete
- useful on small jobs, an effective method in keeping surface 2. HIGH-PRESSURE-STEAM-AUTOCLAVES – for small manufactured
continuously wet units
c.4. Wet hay or straw • temperature ranges from 165 oC to 190 oC with
- should be placed in layer at least 6 in (150 mm) thick and corresponding pressure of 550 to 1170 kPa
held down with wire screen, burlap, tarpaulin or other • hydration is highly accelerated and the elevated
means to prevent its being blown by wind temperatures and pressures can produce additional
❖ Disadvantage of c.3 and c.4 is the possibility of discoloring beneficial chemical reaction between aggregates and
the concrete that must be considered when selecting a cementitious materials (this does not occur under normal
curing method steam curing)

2. Methods that prevent loss of mixing water from the concrete by B. INSULATING BLANKETS OR COVERS
sealing the surface - used when temperatures fall below 32 oF (0 oC)
- uses layers of dry, porous materials such as straw or hay
A. IMPERVIOUS PAPER serving as insulators
- consists of two sheets of kraft paper cemented together by - formworks can be economically insulated with commercial
a bituminous adhesive with fiber reinforcement blankets or batt insulation that has tough moisture-proof
- applicable to horizontal surfaces and structural concrete of covering
relatively simple shapes - insulating blankets are manufactured of fiberglass, sponge
- does not require periodic addition of water rubber, cellulose fibers, mineral wool, vinyl foam, and open-
- provides protection to the concrete against damage from cell polyurethane foam
subsequent construction activity CURING PERIODS:
APPLICATION/INSTALLATION Factors considered in determining the length of curing period
• applied as soon as concrete has hardened and thoroughly 1. type of cement
wetted 2. required strength
• edges of adjacent sheets should be overlapped several 3. ratio of exposed – surface area to volume of concrete
inches and tightly sealed with pressure-sensitive tape or 4. weather
bituminous cement 5. future exposure conditions
• sheets must be weighted to maintain close contact with
concrete surface
• paper can be reused if it effectively retains moisture

B. PLASTIC SHEETS
- use of polyethylene film which is lightweight and effective
moisture barriers
- easily applied to complex as well as simple shapes similar to
that of impervious paper
- causes discoloration
- available in clear and white opaque film, however black is
available and satisfactory under some condition
- includes a sheet material consisting of burlap impregnated
on one side with white opaque polyethylene film

C. MEMBRANE-FORMING CURING COMPOUNDS

- consists of waxes, resins, chlorinated rubber, and solvents
of high volatility
- suitable not only for curing fresh concrete but also for
further curing concrete after removal of forms or initial
moist curing
- applied immediately in usually one coating after the final
finishing of concrete, by hand-operated or power-driven
spray equipment to give a smooth even coverage
- should not be used when bond is necessary for curing
compounds can prevent bond between hardened and fresh
concrete; adhesion of paint or resilient flooring materials
2 TYPES
1. CLEAR OR TRANSLUCENT – contains fugitive dye to assure
complete coverage of the concrete surface by visual check
2. WHITE-PIGMENTED – reduces solar-heat gain, reducing the
concrete temperature

D. FORMS LEFT IN PLACE

- impervious forms provide satisfactory protection against
loss of moisture if the top exposed concrete surfaces are
kept wet
- should be kept moist by sprinkling especially during hot, dry
weather

3. Methods that accelerate strength gain by supplying heat and

moisture to concrete

A. STEAM CURING
- advantageous where early strength gain is important or
where additional heat is required to accomplish hydration,
as in cold weather