Influence of antifoaming admixture type on several properties of high-performance self-compacting concrete

EN 934-2 "Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout Concrete admixtures. Definitions, requirements, conformity, marking and labelling" requires that any increase in the air content shall not be more than 2% by volume over that obtained from the reference mix, and most types of superplasticizers (SPs) easily meet this requirement. Some types may even reduce the level of air, and this can result in a less cohesive mix, which may be more prone to bleed and segregation or may leave the mix feeling harsh and difficult to handle. Unfortunately, some types of superplasticizers increase the level of air. Too high a volume of air has been overcome using an antifoaming agent. The influence of new-generation type superplasticizer and antifoaming admixture (AFA) on the air content and workability of high performance self-compacting concrete (HPSCC) is analyzed in this paper. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the admixture type on pore size distribution, compressive strength and frost resistance of HPSCC at constant water to cement ratio, type and volume of aggregate, and volume of cement paste. The parameters of the open pores and air voids of hardened HPSCC are also investigated. The results presented in this paper show that admixtures significantly influence the investigated properties of HPSCC.