The effect of foam fractionated lignosulphonates on air entrainment in concrete

One of the properties of air-entraining admixtures that may influence their efficiency is their surface tension when combined with mixing water. Lignosol SF is a standard air-entraining agent. With the objective of identifying a product with improved qualities, Lignosol SF was fractionated and two of its fractions, respectively with low (foamate) and high (retentate) surface tension properties were investigated as potential air-entraining agents. Measurements were made both of air content in wet concrete mix and of the air-void characteristics of the hardened concrete.The results showed that at low concentrations and water:cement ratios the performance of all the three products above are similar. However, the foamate fraction becomes more effective in entraining air with increases in concentration and water:cement ratio. Further, this foamate resulted in the hardened concrete having bubbles with a smaller mean diameter than those in the retentate. The spacing factors for both these products were within recommended limits. Keywords: admixtures; air-entrainment; air-voids; concrete; freeze-thaw resistance; Lignosol; spacing factor. </jats:p