CE 415: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Lesson 2
Water, Cement and Admixtures
Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, you are able to;

1. Describe the different types, characteristics and properties of cement.
2. Understand the cement properties that are significant to the quality of
concrete.
3. Differentiate the types of admixtures and its uses.
4. Discuss the role of admixtures in improving concrete performance.

Time Frame: 1 week

Introduction

In lesson 1 of this module, you have learned the importance of aggregates

in concrete. This lesson will explore us to the other components of concrete, the
water and cement. We will also discussed a bit of admixtures and how it helps
improve the quality of concrete. The proportioning of the components of concrete
and how to design a concrete mix formula are also presented here. Activities were
prepared in this lesson to help you understand the concept of designing a concrete
mix formula. Submit all your answers in any platform mentioned in the syllabus not
later than the 3rd week from the start of classes.

Prepare at least 1 kg of cement and 1 L of water. Divide

the cement into four equal parts. Examine and observe the
cement powder. Write down your observations. Then, mix
each part of the cement with 50 mL, 100 mL, 150mL and
200 mL of water. Observe the paste and list down all your
observations.

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Based on the observations you listed in the preceding

activity. Answer the following questions. Submit all
your answers in any platform mentioned in the syllabus
not later than the 3rd week from the start of classes.

1. Describe the fineness of cement. Are they coarse or fine? Are they
uniform or range in size? How the fineness of cement affects the
quality of concrete and the concrete mix design?
Answer:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_______________________.

2. How dense is the cement? Are they denser than the fine aggregates
(sand) you have observed in lesson 1? How the dense affects the
proportioning of the components of concrete and its quality?
Answer:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
________________________.

3. How the cement reacts when mixed with different amount of water?
Answer:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_________________.

4. What mixture do you think produce a good quality of concrete.

Explain.
Answer:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_________________.

5. Does the water cement ratio affects the quality of concrete? How
and why?
Answer:______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_______________________.

Very nice, to further your knowledge with the cement concrete

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There are different type of cements but Portland

.cement is the most widely used cement because of
its suitability for a general concrete construction.

CEMENT CONCRETE COMPOSITION

Cement paste (cement + water) – They serve as glue (or binder) that
bonds aggregates together to make concrete
Mortar (cement paste + sand)
Concrete (cement + water + sand + aggregates)

PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

COMPOSITION
Admixtures Water Portland
5% 5%
Cement…
Air Voids
1%-15%

Aggregates, 60%-75%

Portland Cement Aggregates Air Voids Admixtures Water

Figure 1.2.1 Composition of Concrete

USES OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

There are several uses of Portland cement concrete. It can be used in;
1. Buildings
2. Bridges
3. Pavements
4. Concrete block buildings

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Portland Cement
Portland cement C is named after the limestone & chalk cliffs
on the Isle of Portland, where it was first made in the early
1800s. There are many types of cement, but portland cement
is so prevalent that in construction cement is always
assumed to mean portland cement.

Portland Cement History

In 3000 B.C, Egyptian Pyramid of Cheops was first made using
Calcareous Cement ( CaO) and Calcined gypsum. There are also traces of
cement utilization in Roman and Greek Projects. The first hydraulic cements
using calcined limestone and clay were traced as early as 100 B.C.

Cement Production

Figure 1.2.2 Stages of Cement Production

Source:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277586922_Exergetic_assessment_of_a_rotary_kiln_fo
r_clinker_production_in_cement_industry/citation/download

Cement Properties
FinenessSmaller cement particles have more surface area to react
with water.

 too fine is more expensive and can be

harmful

 fineness controls the rate of hydration

(heat & strength gain)

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Two ways to measure indirectly the surface area of cement (cm2/g);

Blaine test – Measures air permeability against known standard

material.

Figure 1.2.3 Blaine Fineness apparatus for cement

Source: https://www.controls-group.com/eng/cement-testing-equipment/blaine-fineness-apparatus.php

Wagner Turbidimeter – Measures sedimentation rate suspended in

kerosene - finer settles slower

Figure 1.2.4 Wagner Turbidimeter for cement fineness

Source: https://www.certifiedmtp.com/wagner-turbidimeter/

Specific Gravity
Cement is much denser than aggregates. It commonly has
3.15 specific gravity measured without air voids. Since the bulk unit weight
(weight required to fill a container) is highly variable, cement should not be
measured by volume.

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Hydration
Hydration is the chemical reaction of cement when mixed with water.
Cement hardens when it comes into contact with water . This hardening is a
process of crystallization or hydration. Crystals form (after a certain length
of time which is known as the initial set time) and interlock with each other.
Concrete is completely fluid before the cement sets, then
progressively hardens. The cement and water mixture that has crystallized
in this way encloses the aggregate particles and produces a dense material.
The concrete continues to harden over several months.

TAKE NOTE!!!

 Hardening is not a drying process and can very

well take place in water.
 Heat speeds up the setting and hardening of
cement, and cold slows it down and can even
completely stop the processes.
 Hardening does not start as soon as cement and
water are mixed, but after a certain length of
time known as the "initial set time" during which
the concrete can be mixed, transported, laid and
vibrated.

To control the hydration rate of the cement, balancing the aluminates >
silicates is needed.

Voids in Hydrated Cement

a) Interlayer hydration space - space between atomic layers and if

humidity is less than 11%.
b) Capillary voids – happens when the water-cement ratio is too high
and it can decrease strength and increase
permeability of concrete.
c) Trapped voids – large pockets of air caused by mishandling of
concrete. It can also decrease strength and
increase permeability of concrete.
d) Entrained air – these are microscopic bubbles caused by
admixtures and can increase durability of
concrete.

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Properties of Hydrated Cement

Setting time starts when the crystals form due to hydration. After the
concrete has finally set, the mixture should never be disturbed.

- Stiffening is the change from plastic state to solid state. This can
be measured from the initial setting time to the final setting time
- Stiffening is not the same as hardening (gain strength)

 handling, placing, & vibrating must be

completed before initial set
 finishing between initial and final
 curing after final set

- False Set is a premature stiffening within a few minutes due to

humidity in cement during storage and remix without adding water.

- Quick Set & Flash setI - is the rapid beginning of the hydration
process and cannot be stopped. Once takes place, there is little
anyone can do to stop the hydration process.

If false set takes place during concrete mixing, can you as an

engineer allowed to add water and remix it?

Answer: If it is false set, remixing with water is no problem as long

as it will not exceed the design water-cement ratio. If it is flash set,
the best thing you can do is to finish the concrete as soon as
possible without retempering or remixing

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There are two devices to measure the initial and final set of cement,
through Vicat Apparatus and Gillmore Apparatus. They both have a
weighted needle for penetration.

Vicat Gillmore
Figure 1.2.5 Apparatus for Initial and Final Set of Cement Test
Source: https://www.matest.com/

Soundness
Ability of the cement paste to retain its volume after setting.
Expansion after setting is measured in the autoclave test at 420oF & 295
psi.

Water-Cement Ratio
The most important property of hydrating cement. The water needed
for hydration is about 22% to 25 % of cement.

What happened if more water is added to the concrete?

Extra water is needed for workability but causes voids thus;
 Decreases strength
 Decreases durability
 Decreases bond between successive layers
 Decreases bond between concrete and rebar
 Increases permeability
 Increases volume change from wetting and drying

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Types of Portland Cement

Standard Portland Cement types
 I Normal
 II Moderate Sulfate Resistance
 Type I/II is both normal & moderate sulfate resistance
 III High Early Strength
 becoming cheaper & more common
 we can strip forms earlier and speed up production
 IV Low Heat of Hydration
 for large, massive pours to control heat of hydration
 V High Sulfate Resistance

Other cement types: for special uses

WATER

Any potable (drinkable) water can be used.

If fresh water is not available, can we allow some impurities?

Some impurities in water can be allowed as long as a reasonable

concrete mix can still be obtained.
Example: seawater may be used for plain concrete, but not for
reinforced
Acceptable Criteria of impurities of water from ASTM C94 states;

 Average 7-day comp. strength of mortar cubes ≥ 90% of

strength of those made with fresh water

 Should not affect the set time significantly

Disposal and Reuse of Wash Water

The waste water from ready-mixed plants is a hazardous substance.
Practices prevented or limited by EPA include
 dumping at the job site
 dumping at a landfill
 dumping into a pit at the ready-mix plant
However, it can reuse for mixing new concrete as long as chemical
stabilizing admixtures will be used.

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ADMIXTURES FOR CONCRETE

Commonly used to improve properties of fresh and hardened concrete
Types of admixtures
1. Air entrainer - Produce tiny, dispersed air bubbles into the concrete.
Water expands as it freezes causing internal stress that cracks the
hardened cement paste and greatly reduces durability. Air entrainer
provides space for the water to go as it expands.

 Recommended for all concrete exposed to freezing.

 Improve workability, resistance to de-icing chemicals, sulfates,
& alkalis
 Decreases strength by about 20% but can be compensated with
lower w/c ratio.
 Different from entrapped air which is harmful larger bubbles
 frost resistance improves with decreasing void size
 small voids reduce strength less than large ones
 Air entrainers are usually a liquid poured directly into the truck
 Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage

2. Water reducer - Increase mobility of cement particles thus improves

workability and can be measured with slump test.

Figure 1.2.6 Concrete with different amount of water reducers

Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/3919687/

Three Ways to Use Water Reducers

1. Improve workability using same w/c ratio
2. Increase strength using lower w/c ratio
3. Reduce cost at same w/c ratio by reducing both water & cement

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Plasticizer (Superplasticizer) (High-Range Water Reducer)

 High-range water reducers used same as above:
 increase slump from 3" to 9"
 reduce water by 12 - 30% at same slump
 Lasts only 30 - 60 min. with rapid loss of workability
 added at the jobsite

3. Retarder - Delay or retard initial set (increase set time). Itcan be used to
the following situations;
 hot weather for low heat of hydration
 long haul time
 time for special finishes
However, retarder may reduce early strength and usually
doesn't reduce final set time much.

4. Hydration controller - Have the ability to stop and reactivate the

hydration process of concrete
Consist of 2 parts
1. stabilizer: stops the hydration for up to 72 hours
2. Activator: re-establishes normal hydration and setting
They are useful in extending the use of ready-mixed concrete
when work at the jobsite is stopped for various reasons and also
when concrete is being hauled for a long time
5. Accelerator - Speed up or accelerate initial & final set (decrease set
time). Used to
A. reduce the amount of time before finishing operations begin
B. reduce curing time
C. increase rate of strength gain
D. plug leaks under hydraulic pressure efficiently
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is the most common used accelerator.
6. Specialty admixtures – Depending on the need, it can improve the
specified properties of concrete and other uses.

 workability agents
 corrosion inhibitors
 damp-proofing agents
 permeability reducing

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 fungicidal, germicidal,& insecticidal admix (hospitals, clean

rooms, etc.)
 concrete pumping aids
 bonding agents
 grouting agents
 gas-forming agents
 coloring agents

Let us some fun remembering what we have discussed in

this lesson. Answer the following questions as best as
you can remember. Submit all your answers on or before
the end of 3rd week from start of classes.

1. Review the observations you listed down in the activity prior to

our lesson 2 discussions (abstraction). Are your answers in the
analysis part correct? Explain.
2. Can rainwater be used for concrete mix? Why and why not?
3. If the available water in the site contains suspended solids
(source is from the river that just recently flooded), can the water
be used? If so, explain. If not, what would you do?
4. Can an ordinary Portland cement concrete be used when the
concrete project to be poured is submerged in water? Why or why
not?
5. If the initial setting time took place early, what would you do as a
project engineer and as a materials engineer?

Good job students!!! We are done with our

discussions on all the components of concrete. Their
quality is as important in their own way to the quality
of the concrete product. When these components
mixed together and turned into concrete, what will
happen? Next lesson will discussed all about fresh
and hardened concrete. A concrete mix design
formula also will be discussed, presenting how the
proportioning of these components be done.

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