Concrete Plasticizers: What Are They Used For?
July 2, 2024
Concrete plasticizers are materials added during the concrete mixing process to enhance its plasticity. They significantly simplify the handling of the mixture and improve the operational characteristics of concrete after it has hardened. We will provide more details about these and other features of plasticizers in this article.
What are plasticizers and why are they needed?
Do you need to add a plasticizer to liquid concrete? Absolutely! Today, no construction project can do without these materials. The primary effect of using plasticizing additives is to increase the workability of the concrete mixture while maintaining its strength characteristics after hardening.
The use of plasticizers allows for reducing the amount of water needed to prepare the mixture. An excess of water leads to the formation of pores during the concrete hardening process, which negatively affects the material’s strength, resistance to frost, and durability against moisture.
Manufacturers use various chemical compounds as plasticizing agents depending on the intended purpose of the additive. Plasticizers may include lignosulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, polycarboxylates, and other compounds.
Advantages of concrete plasticizers
The application of plasticizers allows you to:
- Improve the workability rating of the concrete mixture (according to GOST 7473-2010).
- Increase the flowability and plasticity of the concrete mixture.
- Increase the density of concrete.
- Increase the strength of concrete, resistance to frost and moisture.
- Reduce shrinkage deformations.
- Improve the adhesion of the mixture.
- Reduce the amount of cement needed to prepare the concrete mixture.
- Fill all hard-to-reach places with the concrete mixture during pouring into complex structures.
In addition, plasticizers facilitate the work of builders with special equipment. The concrete mixture with plasticizer does not stick to the walls of concrete mixers, is easier to feed with concrete pumps to structural elements, and extends the delivery time of the mixture using concrete mixers.
Often, concrete manufacturers modify mixtures with various compositions that allow working with concrete in frost, increasing the water resistance of concrete.
Types of concrete plasticizers
Beginner builders often ask which plasticizer is best for concrete. There is no definite answer to this question. Plasticizing additives for concrete should be selected for specific tasks, conditions of preparation, and operation of the concrete mixture.
According to GOST 24211-2008, among plasticizing additives for concrete, plasticizing and superplasticizing additives should be distinguished. Such additives differ in efficiency.
Concrete plasticizers from Sika
Sika offers high-quality plasticizing additives for concrete mixtures designed with the characteristics of the private home market in mind. Special attention has been paid to the compatibility of all additives with cement and fillers available on the market.
SikaPlast Concrete is a superplasticizing and water-reducing additive for structural concrete. It is intended for the production of foundations, walls, columns, and slabs. It is chloride-free, so it can be used in concrete mixtures for the construction of reinforced concrete structures without the risk of rapid corrosion of the reinforcement.
SikaPlast Floor is a superplasticizer for concrete mixtures used for laying floor screeds and for the construction of high-strength concrete floors. It is developed with the features of application in structures with a high surface modulus in mind.
Sika Antifreeze Plast is a superplasticizing additive for concrete mixtures used at low and negative temperatures.
Sikament® BV 3M is a plasticizer for concrete mixtures of various purposes, suitable for use in floor screeds.
Sika Latex is a versatile plasticizer for fine-grained mixtures, allowing to increase adhesion, elasticity, and reduce shrinkage of the mixture. It is used to create adhesive layers.
Sikament-1 Rapid is a superplasticizer that provides high plasticity of the concrete mixture and accelerates the gain of strength. It increases the resistance of concrete to chemical and mechanical effects.
If you still have questions about why you need a plasticizer in concrete, call us. We will explain it to you in detail and in an accessible way.