Antifreeze additives for bricklaying and concrete pouring in winter

There are unique difficulties when working with bricks and concrete during the winter. Your materials are more likely to freeze in colder weather, which can result in fractures, weakened structures, or even the project’s total failure. Additives for antifreeze are useful in this situation.

These additives are made expressly to lower the freezing point of the water in the mixture, so your mortar or concrete will set properly in the winter as well. They also aid in hastening the curing process, allowing you to complete your work on time regardless of how cold it gets outside.

Comprehending the proper usage of antifreeze additives is essential for a successful winter building season. This post will discuss the various kinds of antifreeze additives that are available, their functions, and the best ways to use them in your projects.

Antifreeze Additive	Benefits
Calcium Chloride	Speeds up curing and reduces freezing point of water in the mix.
Sodium Nitrate	Prevents frost damage by lowering the freezing temperature of the mix.
Potassium Carbonate	Improves setting time and provides early strength in cold conditions.
Sodium Formate	Allows concrete to harden even at low temperatures by lowering freezing point.

The principle of operation of antifreeze additives

Wintertime additions to the solution are required in order to facilitate the exothermic chemical reaction between the cement and water, which results in the formation of concrete grain, before the water crystallizes from the cold air.

However, a number of chemical processes produce the intended result:

• antifreezes reduce the crystallization temperature of water (some of their varieties – up to -25 degrees Celsius);
• sulfuric acid salts (sulfates), when added to water, increase its temperature, and also accelerate the hardening of the concrete mixture;
• accelerator additives. The mechanism of action of these components accelerates the dissolution of silicates in water, increasing the efficiency of the concrete hardening reaction. In addition, basic and double salts are formed, which lower the freezing temperature of the entire mass of the solution as a whole.

Economic feasibility of use

Naturally, the cost of concrete and mortar increases when antifreeze additives are added to them.

Grizalt C-3 plasticizer (10l)

But in this case, you must determine with objectivity which is more profitable:

• either save on additives, but mothball the construction for six months, and in warm weather re-deliver equipment to the construction site and correct the defects that formed over the winter, associated, for example, with the divergence of seams between rows of bricks and the general loss of strength of already erected structures;
• or spend money on antifreeze additives.

The cost of a day of downtime at a construction site in a mothballed state compared to downtime in a working mode is related at a ratio of 1:2, as per the standard (specified in SNiP). Indeed, it is less expensive, but the 180-day conservation period is extended.

It is evident even to the unaided eye that investing in antifreeze additives rather than stopping construction would be more cost-effective. These monetary losses pale in comparison to what will have to be paid in order to preserve the facility.

Temperatures and specifics of mixture selection

It makes sense to think about different kinds of mixtures and assess their qualities:

A sophisticated additive called "VIP Beton" is added to concrete to improve its strength, durability, resistance to water, and wear.

Calcium carbonate& Sodium tetraborate

It is necessary to use these two reagents together. Potash, or calcium carbonate, speeds up the concrete’s hardening process while also decreasing the material’s strength on its own. "Borax," another name for sodium tetraborate, is a combination of sodium, ammonium, and calcium salts. Bora lessens the water permeability of concrete, stops cracks from forming, and strengthens it by 20% to 30%.

Borax also has the advantage of maintaining the structural integrity of the concrete mass when it thaws in a warm environment.

Sodium nitride

This reagent has the advantage of very effectively preventing the water in the cement-containing solution from crystallizing through freezing, rather than through a chemical reaction with the cement. It is possible to use sodium nitride at -25°C. The reagent’s drawback is that it must be handled carefully due to its extreme toxicity and, most importantly, fire hazard (its concentration should not exceed 0.42 l / kg of cement-containing mixture, for example).

Cemmix CemBase plasticizer additive

Formates

Both calcium and sodium formate work well as antifreeze accelerators. They are typically combined with naphthalene lignosulfonate. Although the reagent costs a little more than the same amount of sodium nitride, it is non-toxic and, most importantly, requires very little (no more than 5–6% of the mixture’s volume).

Ammonia water

When dissolved in water, ammonia works wonders as both a fertilizer and an antifreeze additive for mixtures that contain cement. Even at ambient temperatures as low as -35°C, concrete can be poured; however, the solution’s ammonia water concentration must be raised to 20%. Ammonia water also improves the adhesive qualities of the concrete itself and successfully shields metal reinforcement within a concrete mass from the onset and progression of corrosion (in relation to the same reinforcement).

Antifreeze additives are crucial for preventing freezing, which can weaken structures and cause long-term problems when working with concrete or bricklaying during the winter. The durability and safety of your construction project are ensured by these additives, which enable the materials to set and cure properly even in cold temperatures. Successful winter construction requires knowing which additives to use and how to use them.

The best brands and manufacturers of ready-made antifreeze compounds

No	Name of reagent	Dosage (from the volume of the mixture)	Range of application temperatures in the specified concentration
1.	"Asol-K"	up to 6%	up to -10°C
2.	"Gidrobeton SZM-15"	36%	up to -15°C
3.	"Gidrozim"	50%	up to -15°C
4.	"Lignopan-4"	4%	up to -15°С
5.	«Pobedit-Antimoroz»	8%	up to -15°С
6.	«Butimast»	2%	up to -15°С
7.	«Betonsan»	2%	up to -10°С
8.	«Cementol B»	0.8%	up to -5°С

Plasticizer SVV 500 for concrete and gypsum

Folk method

Sadly, "folk remedies" that are added to concrete during the wintertime ought never to be put into actual use. The truth is that there is a societal belief that adding regular salt (NaCl) to the solution is sufficient and even at -10 °C, the solution will not freeze.

• Firstly, this effect is achieved up to an air temperature of at least -6 ° C, and then everything can still freeze.
• Secondly, using this additive in brickwork in winter will lead to the fact that ugly white streaks will appear on the surface of the walls in the spring, which will be impossible to wash off with water.
• And thirdly, think about what a favorable environment for the corrosion of metal reinforcement is created.

It is strongly advised against using "folk remedies" if you are concerned about the caliber of capital structure construction.

How to calculate the dosage?

The amount of the ingredient used as an additive to keep mortar or concrete from freezing during the winter is precisely measured in accordance with the directions on the container.

It is important to remember that:

1. The reagent is never added to the dry mixture.
2. For some toxic additives (for example, for sodium nitride) there is a maximum permissible concentration (for NN – this is no more than 5 mg / l).
3. The dosage always comes from the volume of the concrete or mortar mixture being prepared (again, you should carefully read the instructions).

Superplasticizer C-3 OBERN, 5 l

We use an antifreeze additive in winter

The application of additives in building solutions that stop water from freezing has unique qualities.

For pouring concrete

Before mixing the concrete mixture, make sure you have a thorough understanding of how to use each type of additive. Since crushed stone filler is used in concrete, diluting the dry mixture with water reduces volume shrinkage. This means that pouring concrete in the winter will require more anti-freeze additive than sand-cement mortar preparation for brick walls.

Study the weather forecast before beginning any work as well. The additive will not be very helpful if the thermometer drops below the critical values for which it is intended. The mixture will freeze instead of hardening as it should, and it will unavoidably crack when it defrosts!

Uniplast S410 optimist plasticizer.additive 10l

For bricklaying

It takes a lot longer to form brickwork than it does to pour a mass of concrete. In order to prevent the cement mortar from freezing for an extended period of time, it is crucial to use an anti-freeze additive when laying bricks in the winter.

Thus, the length of the anti-freeze effect is the first consideration here.

Additionally, you must consider the weather when selecting an antifreeze dosage that is appropriate for the surrounding temperature.

In this instance, it is preferable to forgo working on days with notable temperature swings (during a thaw, for example).

Consequently, preserving consistent weather conditions constitutes the second factor.

While building in the winter presents its own set of difficulties, you can keep your project moving forward even in subfreezing temperatures by using antifreeze additives when pouring concrete and laying brick.

These additives guarantee that the mortar or concrete sets correctly without freezing, which can avert expensive delays and potential structural problems down the road. Even in cold weather, you can achieve strong, long-lasting results by selecting the appropriate additive and adhering to best practices.

Antifreeze additives are a wise addition to any winter construction plan as they can help you save time, money, and headaches while maintaining the timeliness and caliber of your work.

Video on the topic

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Features of winter concreting. Anti-frost additives for concrete and mortar.

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Mixing mortar for masonry in frost – [© masterkladki]