When it comes to selecting the right concrete additives, it has become increasingly crucial. Concrete usage is now inseparable from human life, and the growing demand for concrete materials to support large infrastructure projects in the country has made high-quality natural materials harder to obtain compared to previous decades. This is where concrete technology, in the form of excellent concrete additives, plays an essential role in optimizing the best materials available to create strong and durable concrete.

Additives that act as hardeners in concrete mixtures are commonly known as concrete admixtures, hardening agents, or accelerators. Also read: Types of Concrete Admixtures

There are several types of concrete hardeners designed to make concrete stronger, generally divided into two types:

1. Accelerator

An accelerator, classified as admixture type C according to ASTM C-494, is a type of concrete hardener that primarily functions to speed up the setting of concrete by accelerating the hydration process of cement. The hydration process, which typically takes about 2 hours before heat starts to trigger setting, can be accelerated to approximately half an hour (depending on dosage, mixing timing, and the type of cement used).

Accelerators are generally classified into two types:

a) Chloride-Based Accelerator

Chloride-based accelerators utilize the chemical properties of chloride to speed up the hydration heat process. The advantage of this type is that it is easy and inexpensive to obtain. However, its downside is that it can cause corrosion of the reinforcement bars in the concrete, as it introduces chloride, which triggers rust formation. To mitigate this drawback, chloride-based accelerators should only be used in concrete or grouting areas that do not contain reinforcement.

b) Non-Chloride-Based Accelerator

Non-chloride-based accelerators contain special chemicals that help trigger the hydration heat process earlier without the need for chloride. This makes non-chloride-based accelerators a great option for areas with or without reinforcement bars. However, the downside is that the unit cost is relatively higher than chloride-based accelerators. Nonetheless, if you require fast-setting concrete or grouting in areas with reinforcement, a non-chloride-based accelerator is the best solution to choose.

To know more about which concrete additives make your concrete strong and durable, keep following our educational articles, only at consolindonesia.com.

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