The proper combination of ingredients is essential to producing concrete that is strong, long-lasting, and resilient. Plasticizers are one of these ingredients that is essential to improving the concrete’s workability without sacrificing its strength. It’s a common misconception, though, that liquid soap can effectively replace plasticizers. Because of this misconception, a lot of people have tried mixing household soap with their concrete mixtures in an effort to cut costs or make use of leftover materials.
Despite the fact that it could appear like a straightforward and safe alternative, using liquid soap in place of the appropriate plasticizer can cause a number of issues. The chemical characteristics of liquid soap prevent it from interacting with cement particles in the same manner as plasticizers. Over time, this may cause the concrete to weaken, become more porous, and be more vulnerable to cracking and other types of degradation.
Furthermore, adding liquid soap to the concrete mix may cause unwelcome air bubbles. The concrete’s overall density and structural integrity may be compromised by these air bubbles generating voids within the material. In extreme circumstances, this may jeopardize the concrete structure’s longevity and safety, necessitating expensive repairs and possibly posing risks.
Anyone working with concrete needs to know the importance of each component and fight the urge to use cheaper alternatives, such as liquid soap, to save costs. You can make sure that your concrete projects are long-lasting and offer the strength and dependability required for any construction project by adhering to tried-and-true materials and techniques.
- Comparison of a specialized plasticizer and a detergent
- Laboratory research
- Composition of detergent and plasticizers
- Video on the topic
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- Mortar with FAIRY = DROPPING strength by a LOT of times!!! Is THIS REALLY SO?! NOT A COLLECTIVE FARM check from VOVAN!
- Why some craftsmen add a little liquid soap to concrete!
- Construction errors. Soap instead of a plasticizer.
- Plasticizer or detergent? FORGET the truth!
Comparison of a specialized plasticizer and a detergent
In order not to be unfounded, let"s consider an already conducted laboratory experiment, which clearly demonstrates that such rationalization does not always bring good results. So, absolutely identical concrete mixtures (M400) were used for the tests, which contained equal parts of sand (6.8 kg), cement (3.2 kg) and crushed stone of fraction 5-20 (8 kg). The changes affected only the amount of water. For the first composition, 1.41 l was used, and for the second – 1.62 l. Also, "Mixture No. 1" received a plasticizer SikaPlast 520N (1 liter costs about 260-280 rubles), and one very popular detergent was added to "Mixture No. 2" (450 ml costs about 60 rubles, but you can find cheaper ones).
Crucial! The list of acceptable additives for concrete mixtures does not include liquid soap or any other type of detergent. As a result, there is no standard that discusses the proportion of soap to other ingredients.
To make the process of laying concrete in the formwork easier, the amount of additives was calculated so that both mixtures had high plasticity. This led to the addition of 8 g of plasticizer to the second composition and 40 g to the first. It is immediately apparent that much less of the typical inexpensive detergent is needed to achieve the same level of plasticity when we consider the additive’s proportion and cost. As a result, the final cost of this kind of concrete differs significantly. Don’t jump for joy, though.
Laboratory research
Compressive strength is the key property of concrete that interests us. In order to determine if a conventional detergent can effectively replace a specialty plasticizer, four test samples of each mixture were obtained. All eight were put in a special chamber where the concrete strengthened over the course of twenty-eight days. A hydraulic press was then used to conduct tests. What resulted from it?
However, for an expert, all of this was fairly expected; however, for someone who trusted in the healing powers of soap, this was shocking. Four samples using SikaPlast plasticizer had an average strength of 640 kN. This indicates that the purpose of the additive has been achieved. It turns out that we have enough M600 grade concrete at this point to build a structure with excellent strength.
Four samples with detergent produced average results that were overly depressing—99 kN. Given that the indicators don’t even approach M100, this indicates that the finished product wasn’t even thin concrete. Furthermore, it was evident that a porous structure was forming in the mixture. Even for the installation of screeds in residential spaces, such concrete should not be used. And using such a composition to build the foundation is exactly the most pointless endeavor.
And that’s not all. A high percentage (20%) of air entrainment was detected in samples treated with detergent. This implies that the structure will have a high water absorption rate even if the foundation is built on lean concrete. After a few typical temperature variations and seasonal shifts, a new foundation will need to be built.
The most intriguing aspect is that 8 g of the "popular" additive was the only reason for such a decline in indicators. We can only speculate as to what indications the base will have once it gains strength if we take into account that many people would just boldly add such an additive to the mixture.
Composition of detergent and plasticizers
Another theory holds that the composition of additives and liquid soap is exactly the same. Indeed, and this does occur. High-quality additives, like the same superplasticizer SikaPlast 520N, are based on polycarboxylate, as can be seen. It is a very common ingredient in household chemicals, added to powdered detergents, softens water, and boosts surfactant efficacy. It works well as a concrete additive as well. It is almost completely free of chlorides (less than 0.1%) and other substances that could degrade the quality of the concrete mixture.
Dishwashing liquid’s ingredient list is more extensive. The primary ingredients are surfactants, both anionic and nonionic. Ammonium, sodium laurisulfate, lauramine oxide, sodium chloride, polypropylene glycol (basically a solvent), preservatives, different fragrances, and a host of other ingredients could be present in the detergent.
While dishwashing detergents are high in chlorides, they are low in phosphates. And they damage concrete in a destructive way. More accurately, they cause corrosion, which renders the concrete structure rapidly unusable. The soap solution should theoretically be safe in all other respects. However!
Should a dishwashing detergent be designed to eliminate dirt and old grease, the manufacturer is not liable if its composition "does not match" the concrete mixture. Furthermore, a product of this kind might include ingredients that aren’t listed in the composition on the label. And as you are aware, the qualities of concrete can be impacted by even rain and contaminated water.
Our grandfathers mixed soap into concrete, and buildings stood for decades—no one disputes that. But remember that there were stringent GOSTs back then, and soap did not come with a ton of extra ingredients. Adding a detergent is like playing roulette these days. Although there’s a chance you’ll get lucky, the concrete will probably become much weaker.
Reasons | Details |
Weakens the concrete | Liquid soap does not provide the same strengthening benefits as a proper plasticizer, leading to weaker concrete. |
Reduces durability | Concrete mixed with liquid soap can be more prone to cracking and damage over time. |
Inconsistent results | Using liquid soap can lead to uneven mixing and inconsistent quality in the concrete. |
Lack of control | With no standard formulation, it"s hard to control the amount of liquid soap added, affecting the mix quality. |
Potential chemical reactions | Liquid soap can interact with other concrete ingredients in unpredictable ways, leading to unwanted chemical reactions. |
While using liquid soap in place of plasticizer in concrete may seem like a quick fix, there could be serious consequences. Plasticizers are specifically made to increase concrete’s durability and workability without sacrificing its strength. Contrarily, liquid soap lacks these exact chemical characteristics and may result in mix irregularities. As a result, the concrete may become weak and brittle and more vulnerable to cracking and other structural issues.
Liquid soap can also cause the concrete mixture to contain an excessive amount of air bubbles. Although some air entrainment is advantageous in some situations, excessive air entrainment can significantly weaken the concrete. Any construction project faces a serious risk of early failure due to the overall weakening of the structure caused by this unintentional aeration.
Furthermore, liquid soap’s chemical composition is not designed to work with cement in the same way that a plasticizer would. It may become challenging to attain the appropriate consistency and performance in your concrete mix as a result of these unpredictable outcomes. Expert plasticizers are designed to improve the qualities of the concrete without compromising its integrity, guaranteeing a dependable and superior result.
In conclusion, even though it could be tempting to use a common household item like liquid soap, the dangers much exceed any potential advantages. The best bet for safe, robust, and long-lasting concrete is to use materials made expressly for building. Ultimately, investing in the appropriate additives will ensure that your concrete structures endure the test of time while also saving you money, time, and headaches.
Although it may seem like a smart trick, using liquid soap in place of plasticizer in concrete can weaken the material and cause long-term damage. While liquid soap can cause unwelcome air bubbles and shorten the concrete’s lifespan, plasticizers are made expressly to increase the workability and strength of concrete. This may lead to fractures, a decrease in the structure’s ability to support weight, and eventually, expensive repairs. It is crucial to use materials and additives that are specifically designed for the task at hand in order to create a sturdy and dependable structure.