Enhancement in the performance of concrete using a crystalline admixture

Concrete structures deteriorate due to water ingress and aggressive chemical penetration, leading to steel corrosion, spalling and reduced durability. To mitigate these issues, the use of a crystalline admixture (CA) in concrete was explored in this study. The CA was used at a rate of 0.8% by weight of cement in concrete specimens, which were compared with control concrete without CA. The experimental results reveal significant performance improvements: the CA concrete exhibited a compressive strength increase of 15% at 28 days, while water permeability decreased by 24%. Additionally, rapid chloride penetration test results showed a reduction of 52% in total charge passed through the CA concrete (756.7 C) as compared with the control concrete (1573.3 C), classifying the admixed concrete as ‘very low’ penetrability compared with the ‘low’ rating of the control. These findings confirm that the CA significantly enhanced the durability and resilience of concrete, making the addition of CA a viable solution for extending the lifespan of concrete structures.