admixtures in concrete
Posted by rhett on November 22, 2006
If milk is added to concrete mixture in lieu of water, why would the compressive strength suffer?
Soda, glue (50% glue & 50% water) and latex paint (50% paint & 50% water). I am working on my sceince project.
I had cylinders (tap water, salt water, latex paint, glue & soda) tested and discovered that glue, milk and soda were much weaker. Why?
Concrete achieves its strength due to the chemical reaction that takes place between cement and the mix water. The main components formed due to this reaction are Calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) and Calcium hydroxide (CH). CSH is the component which is responsible for the strength of concrete.
I do not have any prior experience of making concrete using the liquids you have listed, so I do not know the exact answer to your question. But, when you add any liquids other than water in large amounts you alter the chemical reaction taking place in the concrete, which might be responsible for the different strength you might have observed.
Also, did you measure the density or the air content of the concrete mixtures containing these liquids?. Products like milk, glue, soda and latex might have an air entraining effect on the concrete reducing its density and strength. Latex possesses binding properties and salt water accelerates the hydration process of cement and might have an accelerating effect on the development of strength.
