Air entrainment adds small bubbles to concrete, making it easier to work with and reducing water needed. It also reduces internal pressure and increases durability, making it useful for bridges and buildings. Aerated concrete resists flaking and cracking, making it ideal for corrosive environments. Advance notice is needed to order aerated concrete.
Air entrainment is a step in the concrete mixing process that introduces very small, evenly spaced air bubbles into the mix. This is distinct from air trapping, when air bubbles are accidentally trapped in the concrete as it is being mixed and poured. Air entrainment is used in mixing concrete for many different environments and improves its life.
To trap trapped air in the concrete, surfactants are added during the mixing process. Surfactants reduce the surface tension at the air-water barrier, allowing for the formation of very small bubbles. As the concrete hardens, the surfactant protects the bubbles, allowing them to set in the concrete. An immediate benefit of air entrainment is that it makes concrete easier to work with and reduces the amount of water needed to make the concrete workable.
In the long run, air entrainment reduces the internal pressures on the concrete, allowing it to last longer. In harsh climates where freeze-thaw cycles are common, ordinary concrete can begin to crack and split from the pressure. Aerated concrete, on the other hand, will be able to withstand pressure and maintain its structural integrity. This makes it particularly useful for applications such as bridges and buildings, where it is critical that concrete maintain its strength and durability over time.
Also, aerated concrete tends to resist flaking more effectively than other types of concrete mixes. This prevents the concrete from chipping or chipping and other problems that can develop over time from environmental exposure. Aesthetically, flaking and cracked concrete is not desirable, but it can also compromise the strength of the concrete, making it a problem structurally as well. This is a special concern in corrosive environments such as coastal areas where salt spray will regularly hit concrete which would cause normal concrete to be prone to flaking and cracking.
Air entrainment may be recommended for concrete used in a variety of settings. Concrete must be mixed in a special way, making it necessary to place an order for aerated concrete in advance to ensure that the necessary surfactants are also added. There may be other special considerations that need to be taken into account when placing an order for concrete casting, such as the materials used as a filler, the need for dyes or stains to color the concrete, and so on. The more advance notice a company has, the more likely it is that it will be able to fulfill the needs of an order on time.
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