Concrete Admixtures
Admixtures are the essential components that enable modern Concrete, environmentally optimised mix designs, innovation in building design and enhance long-term durability of Concrete.
Concrete Admixtures
Concrete is used twice as much in construction over all other building materials, therefore an emphasis on quality, performance and sustainability is essential for the industry to grow and thrive.
One of the most important ingredients in high performance, long-lasting, durable and beautiful Concrete produced today are Concrete admixtures. Concrete admixtures are natural or manufactured chemicals or mineral additives added during Concrete mixing to enhance specific properties of the fresh or hardened Concrete under specific conditions.Â
The main benefits of Concrete Admixtures, including Fibre Concrete, is the potential for improved sustainability credentials, performance and efficiency, through enhanced workability, durability, or early and final compressive strength.
Concrete Admixture Functions include:
Air Entrainers – Small bubbles of air formed through the mix increase cohesion & resistance to freeze-thaw degradation. | Shrinkage Control – Offsetting or reducing shrinkage. |
Water Reducers – Can reduce the water content to reach a required slump by 5-10%. | Alkali-Ailica Reactivity Inhibitors – Alkali-silica reactivity reduction. |
Set Retarders – Slow the setting rate of Concrete, keeping it workable longer. | Colouring – Providing colouration to the Concrete |
Set Accelerators – Increase the rate of early-strength development and reduce time required for curing. | Waterproofing – Providing waterproofing properties to the Concrete. |
Superplasticizers – Reduce water content by 12-30% to make a highly fluid but workable flowing Concrete. | Curing – Improving the curing of the Concrete. |
Corrosion Inhibitors – Slow the corrosion of reinforcing steel in the Concrete. | Weight Reduction – Aeration reduces the weight of the Concrete. |
Compressive Strength – Increased load capacity without fracturing. | Chemical Reaction Control – Offsets or reduces chemical reactions. |
Self Healing – When cracks happen, the fibres will break and the liquid contained will then heal the crack. | Liquid Form – Easy to pump and transport. |
The first step in optimizing Concrete is to recognize that concrete is no longer simply cementitious materials, aggregates and water, in isolation. It is a high performance material with seven essentials, consisting of water, cementitious material, sand, gravel, chemical admixtures, additives and fibre reinforcement.
Concrete Fibre Reinforced Applications
Fibre-reinforced Concrete is ideal for improving the durability and toughness performance of concrete and mortar. Concrete Fibres help reduce shrinkage cracks, increase strength, increase energy absorption and reduces dangerous spalling at high temperatures.
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