Cement accelerator
Encyclopedia
Cement Accelerator is an admixture for the use in concrete
, mortar
, rendering or screeds. The addition of Cement Accelerator speeds the setting time and thus cure time
starts earlier . This allows concrete to be placed in winter without the worry of frost damage
.
Typical materials used for acceleration are Ca(NO3)2
and NaNO3
. CaCl2
has been very popular, but due to its reinforcement corroding behaviour the use is not recommended any more and in many cases prohibited.
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, mortar
Mortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
, rendering or screeds. The addition of Cement Accelerator speeds the setting time and thus cure time
Curing (chemistry)
Curing is a term in polymer chemistry and process engineering that refers to the toughening or hardening of a polymer material by cross-linking of polymer chains, brought about by chemical additives, ultraviolet radiation, electron beam or heat...
starts earlier . This allows concrete to be placed in winter without the worry of frost damage
.
Typical materials used for acceleration are Ca(NO3)2
Calcium nitrate
Calcium nitrate, also called Norgessalpeter , is the inorganic compound with the formula Ca2. This colourless salt absorbs moisture from the air and is commonly found as a tetrahydrate. It is mainly used as a component in fertilizers but is found other applications...
and NaNO3
Sodium nitrate
Sodium nitrate is the chemical compound with the formula NaNO3. This salt, also known as Chile saltpeter or Peru saltpeter to distinguish it from ordinary saltpeter, potassium nitrate, is a white solid which is very soluble in water...
. CaCl2
Calcium chloride
Calcium chloride, CaCl2, is a salt of calcium and chlorine. It behaves as a typical ionic halide, and is solid at room temperature. Common applications include brine for refrigeration plants, ice and dust control on roads, and desiccation...
has been very popular, but due to its reinforcement corroding behaviour the use is not recommended any more and in many cases prohibited.