Concrete Admixtures: Structural Construction

Concrete Admixtures for Structural Construction

Basic concrete mixtures are not always strong enough or durable enough to meet certain needs, and adding admixtures to your concrete can significantly improve its ability to meet requirements for structural needs that require q higher level of strength or durability. Admixtures can also be used to adjust other qualities of your concrete. Here is an overview of some of the most common structural construction uses for admixtures and the specific types of admixtures that are most frequently used for these purposes.

Concrete Structural Construction

Enhancing the overall structural capabilities of a particular concrete mix design is one of the primary reasons for using admixtures in a basic concrete mixture. Some of the most significant reasons for utilizing various types of admixtures include improving the foundational, skeletal, and load-bearing capabilities of the concrete, which can improve your basic mixture’s ability to adapt to a wider range of uses.

Other types of admixtures can improve the compressive strength or flexural strength of the concrete. Microsilica is a common option for improving the overall compressive strength of a batch of concrete. Crushed aggregates are frequently used to improve the flexural strength of a batch of concrete, which describes how well the concrete can withstand certain types of pressure without bending. Parking garage beams and similar structural support systems need to have a high level of flexural strength, which admixtures of various types can help achieve.

Admixtures for Strength

Various types of chemical, mineral, and fiber admixtures can be used to improve the overall strength of a batch of concrete, although chemical admixtures are generally the most common. Water reducing admixtures and superplasticizers are frequently used to allow a concrete mix to maintain an appropriate degree of workability with a lower amount of water required in the mix. The lower water-to-cement ratio results in higher strength concrete. Although most concrete applications a reasonable amount of strength, some applications need to be built from particularly high-strength concrete to ensure the safety of the structure and the people inside and around it.

Admixtures for Durability

Admixtures can also be used to improve the overall durability of a concrete mixture. While durability goes hand in hand with strength when it comes to determining the overall quality of a particular batch of concrete, not all concrete that is high in strength has the level of durability  needed to ensure that it can stand up to the elements and a wide range of other potential sources of damage over time. Admixtures can provide a wide range of benefits, such as reducing permeability, making your concrete less likely to shrink or crack, and reducing corrosion. Air entrainers, high-range water reducers, and other admixtures are among the most common admixtures when it comes to improving durability. Air entraining admixtures are a common type of chemical admixture that can be used to improve durability by making the concrete less susceptible to the effects of freeze-thaw cycles, which can make this admixture an appropriate choice for concrete structures that need to be capable of withstanding the unique needs of particularly cold areas.

At EdenCrete®, we are here to help you evaluate your options and determine the most beneficial admixture type for your needs. We can help you assess the specific qualities that will make your concrete the best fit for your project, as well as assist you with making sure that your concrete mixture is as the best choice to increase the longevity of your structure. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of adding EdenCrete® to your concrete or to get started!