Plasticizers For Concrete - Principle, Types & Advantages
Plasticizers are admixtures that are added to concrete to increase the fluidity or workability of a cement paste or concrete. It is also called as workability aids, that are added to fresh or early stage concrete to change its workability characteristics.
Superplasticizer
Plasticizers are chemical compounds that enable the production of concrete with approximately 15% less water content. Superplasticizers allow reduction in water content by 30% or more. These additives are employed at the level of a few weight percent. Plasticizers and superplasticizers retard the curing of concrete. [1]
Superplasticizer: Types, Advantages & Disadvantages
Superplasticizers (SPs) are also known as high- range water reducers that are additive used in making high strength concrete. Plasticizers are chemical compounds that enable the production of concrete with approximately 15% less water content. Superplasticizers allow a 30% or more reduction in water content.
What are Plasticizers in Concrete? (2025)
Plasticizers are substances that are added to concrete to reduce the amount of water needed for proper mixing and workability. This allows for the production of concrete with higher strength, as the water-cement ratio (w/c) is inversely proportional to the strength of the concrete.
Use of Water Reducers, Retarders, and Superplasticizer
There are four types of superplasticizers: sulfonated melamine, sulfonated naphthalene, modified lignosulfonates and a combination of high dosages of water reducing and accelerating admixtures. Commonly used are melamine based and naphthalene based superplasticizers.
- What is a plasticizer used for?
- Plasticizers are commonly used with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and concretes. Plasticizers serve several crucial purposes in civil engineering materials: Workability – Plasticizers allow concrete to flow more easily into molds and around rebar during pouring. They make the concrete more malleable and improve slump. This makes large pours easier.
- What is a plasticizer in concrete?
- and more resistant to cold. A plasticizer is an additive used in concrete to improve its workability, performance, and durability. Plasticizers are typically added to concrete mixes to make pouring, shaping, and finishing easier. They can also help to increase the strength and reduce the permeability of the hardened concrete.
- What are the different types of plasticizers for concrete?
- As a result, the concrete paste becomes smoother and more user-friendly. Plasticizers come in various forms, such as polyglycerol esters and lingo sulfates, with dosage ranging from 0.1% to 0.4% by weight of cement. Hydrophilic Plasticizer : Improves concrete’s plastic and flow properties by increasing wet ability.
- How do Plasticizers make concrete stronger and last longer?
- Plasticizers make concrete stronger and last longer by reducing the amount of water and cement needed to reach a certain level of workability. Since the heat of hydration of mass concrete goes down when the cement weight goes down, plasticizers can do this. Plasticizers and water reducers are chemical admixtures used to make concrete more workable.
- Should you add plasticizers to concrete and PVC?
- Adding plasticizers to concrete and PVC comes with a mix of pros and cons: Advantages: Disadvantages: Here are some key points about plasticizers in concrete: Plasticizers are chemical admixtures that increase the workability and plasticity of concrete. This makes concrete easier to place and finish.
- What are plasticizers & water reducers?
- Plasticizers and water reducers are chemical admixtures used to make concrete more workable. Unless the mixture is “starved” of water, increasing the w/c ratio reduces the concrete’s strength. An increase in durability is achieved by decreasing the water content (without “starving” the concrete).
