Polymer Based Admixtures for Concrete

Polymeric admixtures used in concrete are mainly for water reduction purposes. Besides this primary effect they may also have secondary effects like retardation, acceleration, or air-entrainment, depending on their formulations. 

1 General Thoughts About Chemical Admixture-Cement Interactions 

Water reducing admixtures (WRA) are grouped into five types  

The retarding WRA, again possess the properties of the normal type but elongate the setting time of concrete resulting in increased time for transportation, handling, and placing. 

The high-range water reducing admixtures (HRWRA) which are also called superplasticisers are admixtures that reduce the mixing water requirement of a concrete with a given consistency by more than 12% [20]. 

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