concretebasics.org: your guide to cement & concrete

Types of Cement

Air Entraining Cement

This cement is manufactured by mixing a small amount of air entraining agent (0.025-0.1% by weight of cement clinker) in powder/liquid form with OPC clinker at the time of grinding.

Air entraining agent can be animal & vegetable fats, oils and their acids. Wetting agents, aluminium powder & Hydrogen peroxide can also be used.

Broadly they are of following types:-

Synthetic detergents of the Alkyl-Aryl sulphonate type
Alkali salts of Wood Resins
Calcium Lignosulphate derived from the Sulphite process in paper making
Calcium salts of glues and other proteins obtained in the treatment of animal hides.

When mixed, Air Entraining cement produces tiny, discrete, tough, non coalescing air bubbles in the concrete. This modifies the workability, segregation, bleeding & frost action resisting properties of concrete.

FAQ

What is the difference between Entrained Air & Entrapped Air?

FUAQ

What is the history behind "Air Entrainment"?