Title:
Concrete Q&A: Synthetic Air-Entraining Admixtures and Air Content Requirements/Recommendations
Author(s):
Michael A. Caldarone, Lawrence R. Roberts, and Emmanuel K. Attiogbe
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
43
Issue:
12
Appears on pages(s):
71-72
Keywords:
DOI:
10.14359/51734367
Date:
12/1/2021
Abstract:
Q. I recently conducted an extensive review of concrete industry standards for requirements and recommendations for air contents specified for freezing-and-thawing durability. Unfortunately, my review shows that the requirements/recommendations included in ACI documents and ASTM standards do not reflect the use of synthetic air-entraining admixtures (AEAs). Rather, these requirements/recommendations are based on concrete mixtures prepared using neutralized vinsol resin AEA, which creates a different air-void system than synthetic AEAs. How can I adjust air content requirements in my specifications to accommodate the use of synthetic AEAs and still meet the requirements/recommendations included in ACI and ASTM documents?
Related References:
1. ACI Committee 201, “Guide to Durable Concrete (ACI 201.2R-01),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2001, 41 pp.
2. ACI Committee 201, “Guide to Durable Concrete (ACI 201.2R-16),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2016, 84 pp.
3. ACI Committee 211, “Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal, Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete (ACI 211.1-91) (Reapproved 2009),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1991, 38 pp.
4. ACI Committee 318, “Building Regulations for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-41),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1941, 63 pp.
5. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-14) and Commentary (ACI 318R-14),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2014, 519 pp.
6. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-19) and Commentary (ACI 318R-19),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2019, 623 pp.
7. ASTM C94-65, “Standard Specifications for Ready-Mixed Concrete,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 1965, 9 pp.
8. ASTM C94/C94M-21a, “Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2021, 15 pp.
9. Jana, D.; Erlin, B.; and Pistilli, M.F., “A Closer Look at Entrained Air in Concrete,” Concrete International, V. 27, No. 7, July 2006, pp. 31-34.
10. ASTM C33-03, “Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2003, 11 pp.
11. Nasvik, J., and Pistilli, M., “Are We Placing Too Much Air in Our Concrete?” Concrete Construction, V. 49, No. 2, Feb. 2004, pp. 51-55.
12. ASTM C457/C457M-16, “Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2016, 18 pp.
13. ASTM C666/C666M-15, “Standard Specification for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2015, 7 pp.