Effect of Calcium Chloride on Concrete

Types of Cement Plain Concrete Time (days) Concrete Containing Calcium Chloride 

The Soviet literature contains references to the use of many complex admixtures containing CaCl2. A study suggests that, of the chlorides of Ca, Ba, Mg, and Fe, 1.6% BaCl2 gives a one day strength equivalent to that obtained with 2% CaCl2.t  

Calcium chloride also has an effect on the hydration of various other cementitious systems such as pozzolanic cements, slag cements, expansive cements, high alumina cement, g q)sum, rapid hardening cement, etc. (See, for example. Refs. 1 and 40.) 

One of the limitations to the wider use of calcium chloride in reinforced concrete is that, if present in larger amounts, it promotes corrosion of the reinforcement unless suitable precautions are taken. There is, hence, a continuing attempt to find an alternative to calcium chloride, one equally effective and economical, but without its limitations. A number of organic and inorganic compounds including aluminates, sulfates, formates, thiosulfates, nitrates, silicates, alkali hydroxides, carbonates, halides, nitrites, calcium salts of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, oxalic acid and lactic acid, urea, glyoxal, triethanolamine, and formaldehyde have been suggested. However, practical experience and research on most of these admixtures is limited. 

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