Wednesday, June 12, 2013

General Uses Of Concrete Plasticizer

By Margarita Joseph


A plasticizer is a substance used in plastic materials to help create viscosity, softness and flexibility and other properties in the product. An admixture used for making mortar and concrete can work as a concrete plasticizer when mixed with a little water. The substance helps to improve the physical properties of another material. They are also used to prevent dried coats of paint from becoming extremely brittle.

When used with cement, the chemicals are often called water reducers. A few are also known as superplasticizers, or high range water reducers. They are slightly different in composition to usual plasticizers, but ultimately serve the same purpose. One specific purpose is to lessen the water content within the cement mix so that it becomes a stronger substance.

It is important to use the correct amount of dispersant, as too little will be ineffective, and too much could have a negative effect on the cement, retarding its function. It is recommended to use between one and two percent dispersant per unit weight. This should result in a good that is workable, but strong.

Water reducers work in such way that they cause cement particles to move away from each other, which in turn leads to a less solid material. This occurs by way of a process referred to as electrostatic repulsion. Dispersants commonly used for the improvement in the workability of cement are developed from pop lignosulfonates, which is substance obtainable from factories that make paper.

A water reducer comes with a number of benefits when mixed with the material. You get high quality workable mixture using low doses of the reducer and at minimal workmanship. It also extends slump life for your mixture. A reducer provides good workability without having to increase the amount of water in your mixture. Educed water quantity therefore saves on money. It also improves on durability, pump ability as well as the mechanical properties of the mixture such as tensile strength, compression and flexibility.

Plasticizers are also used to increase the strength of a cement mix, even though it may contain a lower cement content. The chemical lessens the chances of the material cracking, and segregating, and also allows it to become less permeable. Segregation leads to a tightly packed mixture, which is usually what should be avoided.

The buildings that are developed within the construction industry are stronger when the cement has been enhanced by plasticizers. The general quality of the finalized product is much better as well. Therefore, besides the fact that concretes are easier to manipulate with water reducers, there are also many other advantages of using the product.

Concrete plasticizer is readily available on the market. Its shelf-life will vary according to its manufacture, but about a year is common. Purchasers are recommended to follow the directions on the packaging, and to adhere to safety precautions.




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