Keeping the Concrete in the Best Form

Foaming Agent

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Concrete is made up of three ingredients: aggregates, cement and water. Thanks to the adjuvant added to it, concrete can become more maneuverable, waterproof and lend itself better to the needs of construction. It can even be said that the adjuvant has become the fourth component of concrete. Using the best Foaming Agent for the task happens to be essential here and you need to be specific on that note.

Why add an additive to concrete?

Adjuvant are chemicals that are added at a low rate to the concrete less than 5% of the volume to modify its properties in the fresh state or in the cured state. They are added at the time of mixing.

An adjuvant is classified according to their effects:

  • Retarders or accelerators.
  • Plasticizers increase the workability of fresh concrete.
  • Water repellents that waterproof.
  • Air trainers.
  • Curing agents that protect the concrete during curing.
  • Milling agents.

Use of concrete retarders

They slow down the hold by delaying the hydration of the concrete. They are useful in hot weather to prevent concrete from hardening too fast or when transporting concrete over long distances. When the installation conditions are difficult or long, they make it possible to perform this or make recovery more easily.

Use of concrete setting accelerators

They act by accelerating the hydration of the concrete. They are of two kinds: setting accelerators or hardening accelerator. Note that their use may lead to the less mechanical strength of the concrete.

Use of plasticizer for concrete

They facilitate the laying of concrete by making it more manageable. The plasticizers-water reducer ensures better resistance. Superplasticizers, which are synthetic polymers, have a greater effect than traditional plasticizers for fewer products. Some are specifically designed for self-leveling concretes (BAN) or self- leveling (BAP).

Use of water repellents for concrete

Foaming Agent

They make it possible to waterproof the concrete by stopping the capillary absorption. They are more likely to be used in coatings rather than in all concrete. They are of two kinds: the water repellent that is incorporated into the mix when mixing concrete or the surface water repellent that is applied to the hardened concrete. In the latter case, the water repellent is no longer really an adjuvant.

Air trainers

Their role is to create microscopic air bubbles in the concrete. They allow it to better resist frost and especially freeze or thaw cycles.

The cure products

These are not properly adjuvant since they are sprayed on the concrete once it is poured. They prevent or compensate for too rapid moisture loss and control the temperature of the concrete. Drying too fast leads to the less mechanical strength of the concrete and shrinkage phenomena or cracks.

The grinding agents

They are added during the manufacture of cement at the time of grinding. They avoid the cement to agglomerate and ensure a better quality of the finished product.

Did you know?

The addition of admixtures in the concrete dates from the Roman era. Egg yolk or blood was added to the lime concrete. Since the development of concrete in the nineteenth century, various additive tests have been carried out until trials of adding sugar as a retarder.