ADMIXTURES

SUPER PLASTICIZERS

In the situation such as in concrete pumping, ready-made concrete industry, tremie

concreting, concreting in deep beams etc, high degree of workability in grading or use
of high percentage can be increased by the improvement in grading or use of high
percentage of fine aggregates or increasing cement content or others but it is very
difficult to apply in the field. Extra water can be used to increase workability but it
causes harm to the strength and durability of concrete. Hence, nowadays, it is very
popular to use admixtures named plasticizers and super-plasticizers (available in various
brand names) to reduce water requirement and to make concrete strong and workable.

Plasticizers are the organic or combination of organic and inorganic substances which
reduces water content for certain degree of workability, when added in mix. The basic
products consisting plasticizers are anionic surfactants (such as lignosulphonates, salts
of sulphonates hydrocarbon) nonionic surfactants (such as polyglycol esters,
hydroxylated carboxylic acid products) and others such as carbohydrates, etc. among
them calcium, sodium and ammonium lignosulphonates are commonly used. Plasticizers
are mixed from 0.1% to 0.4% by weight of cement used and it reduces 5% to 15% of
water with the increment of workability from 3 to 8cm slump. In the mix, the cement
grains absorbs the plasticizers molecules and results change in the surface charge of the
same sign which causes repulsive forces and makes the dispersion which increases
plasticity and workability. Some Plasticizer also entrails the air but a good plasticizer is
that which entrains air less than 2% only. The plasticizers are available in market in
various brands with specifications for composition, dosages etc.

However, the super-plasticizers are the improvement of plasticizers. It increases

workability at same water cement ratio (w/c) and decreases w/c ratio at the same
workability level. The fluidizing property remains longer due to the retarding property
on cement hydration. Hence it is possible to obtain so called flowing concrete or self
leveling concrete, which is pumpable or requires very little effort in the compaction. In
the concrete with super-plasticizer segregation and bleeding are nearly absent. In other
words, use of super-plasticizers reduces much more segregations and bleedings than
any normal plasticizers. Hence, super-plasticizers are most effective mix ingredient for
concrete. The super-plasticizers are normally grouped as sulphonated melamine,
Naphthalene sulphonate, modified sulphonates and others. The super-plasticizers are
also available in market in various brands with specifications for composition, dosages
etc.
Specification of Superplasticizer Used

MasterGlenium SKY 8233 is an admixture of a new generation based on

modified polycarboxylic ether. The product has been primarily developed for
applications in high performance concrete where the highest durability and
performance is required.
MasterGlenium SKY 8233 is free of chloride & low alkali. It is compatible with all types of
cements.

Recommended uses:

 Production of Rheodynamic concrete

 High performance concrete for durability
 High early and ultimate strength concrete
 High workability without segregation or bleeding
 Precast & Pre-stressed concrete
Concrete containing pozzolans such as microsilica, GGBFS, PFA including high volume
fly ash concrete

MasterGlenium SKY 8233 helps to produce high performance concrete with longer
workability retention, and high early strength. Mostly compatible with all OPC, PPC, PSC
and can be used with high pozzolonic material.

Features and benefits of MasterGlenium SKY 8233:

 Elimination of vibration and reduced labour cost in placing

 Marked increase in early & ultimate strengths
 Higher E modulus
 Improved adhesion to reinforcing and stressing steel
 Better resistance to carbonation and other aggressive atmospheric conditions
 Lower permeability - increased durability
 Reduced shrinkage and creep

The cost of the above-mentioned superplasticizer is 70 Rs/kg