02-Mar-2022
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Superplasticizers are more commonly known as high range water reducers, are add-ons used in developing high strength concrete. Plasticizers are basically the chemical compounds enabling the production of concrete with reduced water content up to 15%. However, superplasticizers are a step ahead of plasticizers making the reduction of water content in the concrete up to 30% or more. Both Plasticizers and Superplasticizers are responsible for retarding the curing of concrete.
The demand for superplasticizers is high where well-dispersed particle deferral is required in lieu of improving the flow properties of suspensions like in concrete applications. Adding superplasticizers in the concrete or mortar gives the go-ahead to the reduction of water content in the overall cement ratio without affecting the workability of the mixture, however, enabling high-performance concrete. The sturdiness of the concrete increases with relatively reduced water content from the cement mixture which is enabled with the addition of this element.
Let’s take a tour inside the mechanism of superplasticizers in making a strong and high-performance concrete used these days in the construction line.
Concrete has a new definition now and isn’t restricted to being a simple mixture of cement, sand, and water. The evolution of the concrete mixture has revolutionized by the round-the-clock advancement in technology. It is no more restricted to the above-mentioned contents and consists of a diversity of properties.
Nowadays, concrete has gained the repute of being work-friendly, more durable, and stronger than ever with the addition of other desirable characteristics. High-Performance Concrete is this concrete mixture with advanced diversified characteristics making the construction more sturdy and durable.
It is the usage of varied chemical and mineral admixtures along with fibers that result in the emergence of the High-Performance Concrete, giving a deeper understanding of the microstructure of normal concrete and properties of its components.
The addition of these elements has made the concrete not only work-friendly but also easily available and economically viable, making the high-performance concrete a universal material used in every kind of construction.
There are a plethora of benefits when admixtures like superplasticizers are added to the concrete. However, the most glaring advantages of having admixtures added to the concrete are:
When conventional plasticizers are developed with superior performance properties, they become new generation superplasticizers. An example of this type of superplasticizer is Polycarboxylate Ether or simply Polycarboxylate. The performance of these superplasticizers is better than traditional Sulfonated Polymers, either by giving a higher reduction in the water-cement ratio or by providing a higher slump level at a given mixture composition with lower slump losses. New Generation Superplasticizers like Polycarboxylate are capable of reducing water content by up to 40%.
Materials used in concrete in addition to its basic components and constituents are called admixtures. Admixtures are of two types: Chemical Admixtures and Mineral Admixtures.
Talking about mineral admixtures, the following elements come under it:
These elements are added accordingly to intensify the workability of the concrete and enhance resistance to thermic cracking and alkali-aggregate effect, facilitating a reduction of these reactions in the cement content.
Chemical admixtures, on the other hand, are added in minimal quantities to cement mainly to make air entertainment, reduce water, plasticize new concrete mixtures, or regulate the setting duration of the concrete. Chemical admixtures can broadly be categorized into the following elements:
Superplasticizers are added to the concrete mainly to reduce the water content from 15% to 20% without disturbing the workability of the concrete, leading to its high strength and density. These are liner polymers consisting of sulfonic acid groups attached to the polymers at methodical interludes. The main purpose of using superplasticizers as an admixture in making high-performance concretes is for producing flowing concrete with high slumps varying between 175 to 200mm. These are used efficiently in densely reinforced structures, increasing the rut of concrete depending upon its dosage, type, and time of superplasticizers, water ratio, nature, and amount of concrete. It is advised that superplasticizers should be added before placing the concrete.
Now, with round-the-clock advancements in technology, the construction business is gifted with yet another powerful element known as **Generation Superplasticizers**.
