What happens when sugar is added in to concrete? - The Constructor (2024)

In simple terms, sugar acts as a retarder and delays the setting time of concrete.

This is the reason why transit mixer drivers are sometimes advised to add some soft drink to the concrete mix if the vehicle gets stuck up in the traffic for too long.

Technically speaking,

Sugars have been categorized as ‘cement destroyers’ and when sugar is added to Portland cement paste at the onset of mixing, hardening may be delayed indefinitely.

Concrete hardens due to formation of calcium silicate hydrate.

The retarding action of sugar is probably by the prevention of the formation of calcium silicate hydrate.

Sugar exceeding 0.2% by weight of concrete will slow down the reaction drastically.

Sugar increases the setting time of cement up to 1.33 hrs at dosage level of 0.06% by wt of cement. There will be no effect on workability, compaction by the use of sugar as admixture in concrete. Higher long-term compressive strength is achieved in concrete by the use of sugar as admixture.

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What happens when sugar is added in to concrete? - The Constructor (2024)

FAQs

What happens when sugar is added in to concrete? - The Constructor? ›

Originally Answered: What happens if we add sugar to concrete? It will increase the settling time of concrete. Sugar acts as a retarder. Sugar exceeding 0.2% of by weight of concrete will slow down the hydration reaction between cement and water.

What happens when sugar is added to concrete mix? ›

Sugar delays the setting time of cement by up to 1.33 hours at dosage level of 0.06% by weight of cement. No effect on workability, compaction by the use of sugar as admixture in concrete. Higher long-term compressive strength can be achieved in concrete by the use of sugar as admixture.

What does sugar in concrete act as? ›

Sucrose, a type of sugar, acts as a retarder by interfering with the hydration process of the cement. The hydration process is the chemical reaction between cement and water that leads to the hardening or setting of concrete.

Does sugar dissolve concrete? ›

Sugar affects both fresh and hardened concrete. Dry sugar has no effect on hardened concrete, but sugar solutions can be very corrosive.” This vulnerability has been turned into an opportunity to safely remove hardened concrete from a variety of surfaces that are otherwise difficult to clean.

How much sugar will ruin concrete? ›

A.: The old standby for destroying the set of concrete is ordinary sugar. Many concrete mixer trucks carry a bag of sugar for just such emergencies. For most circ*mstances 15 pounds of sugar ought to be enough to kill the set of a 10-cubic-yard batch if it can be thoroughly mixed in.

What is the weakest concrete mix ratio? ›

The weakest mix in the list is 1:5:10 cement:fine aggregate (sand):coarse aggregate (gravel). It has a compressive strength of 5 MPa (725 psi).

Why sugar can be added to mortar? ›

% sugar content had the lowest compressive strength at ages of 7, 28, 90 and 150 days compared to other mixtures. It can be concluded that the sugar can help to increase the later compressive strength of mortar by adding a specific amount of sugar.

Which is the weakest concrete? ›

There are many different grades of concrete which feature different resistances, from C7 to C40. C7 is the weakest grade and C40 can withstand the most pressure over time. C20 therefore sits somewhere in the middle of the scale, allowing for both domestic and commercial projects.

What makes concrete not set? ›

Insufficient water content: Concrete requires a certain amount of water to hydrate the cement and create a chemical reaction that allows it to harden. If the mix is too dry or has too little water, it may not set properly.

How do you make the strongest concrete? ›

Alter the cement-to-sand ratio if you're mixing your own cement. Concrete is made by mixing cement and water with other aggregate materials like sand and gravel. To make your concrete stronger, increase the amount of cement that you're using in relation to the amount of sand and other aggregates that you're using.

What makes the strongest concrete? ›

The answer to this one rests in the fact that the strength of concrete depends on its density; thus a mix containing more sand may be stronger because it is denser. For example a coarse aggregate graded from 3/4 to 3/16 inch has about 40 percent voids.

What softens hardened concrete? ›

Xtreme EZ Grind Concrete Softener is an effective chemical solution that saves you time on the job site! Designed with a citrus-based formula, Xtreme EZ Grind is specially made to break the cream of concrete surfaces. This means it will soften the concrete and help maintain consistent scratch patterns.

Does salt destroy concrete? ›

Though concrete is strong, it is porous. So when salt enters the concrete, it can cause damage. The reason behind this is that salt lowers the freezing point of water, leading to a repeated freeze-thaw cycle. This cycle can significantly weaken the surface of the concrete.

What is the best homemade concrete dissolver? ›

Vinegar's acidity helps in dissolving your cement stains, which makes it easier to remove. A bottle of cement dissolver in the market can easily cost you more than $20, but you can get a jug full of vinegar for less than $10.

What is the effect of sugar on concrete research paper? ›

At all curing period the concrete compressive strength was found maximum for 0.08% sugar. The increments of concrete compressive strength were 22.4%, 19.6% and 20.3% more than plain concrete with 0% sugar in curing period of 7, 14 and 28 days respectively.

What is the effect of sugar on the thickening time of cement slurries? ›

The results indicated that the sugar acts as a retarder of cement slurries when added in small concentrations and as an accelerator when added in high concentration.

Does sugar water stain concrete? ›

Soda and sugar stains can cause many problems on concrete. Not only does it leave behind an unpleasant, sticky stain, but it can also continue to attract dirt and grime for quite a while.

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