Effect of high doses of chemical admixtures on the strength development and freeze-thaw durability of portland cement mortar

This thesis examines the low-temperature strength development of portland cement concrete made with high doses of chemical admixtures dissolved in the mixing water and the possible beneficial effect of these admixtures on that concrete's long-term freeze-thaw durability. The literature shows that high doses of chemical admixtures can protect fresh concrete against freezing and that, under certain conditions, these admixtures can enhance the freeze-thaw durability of concrete. The challenge is that there are no acceptance standards in the U.S. that allow chemicals to be used to protect concrete against freezing. Also, the perception is that chemicals might somehow harm the concrete. This perception seems to be based on the fact that deicing salts, when applied to concrete pavement, cause roadways to scale away.; This study investigated the effect of high doses of commercially available admixtures on fresh concrete while it gained strength at low temperature and on hardened concrete exposed to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing in a moist environment. The reason for studying off-the-shelf admixtures was that these materials are approved for use in concrete; they were already governed by their own set of standards. Four mortars were examined, each with a different cement and water content, when dosed with five commercial admixtures. This allowed the fresh mortar to gain appreciable strength when it was kept at nearly -10C. The admixtures also enhanced the freeze-thaw durability of the mortar, even when it was not air-entrained. Clearly, as the dosage of admixture increased beyond approximately 22% by weight of water, the mortar appeared to be unaffected by up to 700 cycles of freezing and thawing.