ASTM C494/C494M-10a - 1.10.2010
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers materials for use as chemical admixtures to be added to hydraulic-cement concrete mixtures in the field for the purpose or purposes indicated for the eight types as follows:

1.1.1 Type A—Water-reducing admixtures,

1.1.2 Type B—Retarding admixtures,

1.1.3 Type C—Accelerating admixtures,

1.1.4 Type D—Water-reducing and retarding admixtures,

1.1.5 Type E—Water-reducing and accelerating admixtures,

1.1.6 Type F—Water-reducing, high range admixtures,

1.1.7 Type G—Water-reducing, high range, and retarding admixtures, and

1.1.8 Type S—Specific performance admixtures.

1.2 This specification stipulates tests of an admixture with suitable concreting materials as described in 11.1-11.3 or with cement, pozzolan, aggregates, and an air-entraining admixture proposed for specific work (11.4). Unless specified otherwise by the purchaser, the tests shall be made using concreting materials as described in 11.1-11.3.

Note 1—It is recommended that, whenever practicable, tests be made using the cement, pozzolan, aggregates, air-entraining admixture, and the mixture proportions, batching sequence, and other physical conditions proposed for the specific work (11.4) because the specific effects produced by chemical admixtures may vary with the properties and proportions of the other ingredients of the concrete. For instance, Types F and G admixtures may exhibit much higher water reduction in concrete mixtures having higher cement factors than that listed in 12.1.1.

 
2. Referenced Documents

C150-07

Standard Specification for Portland Cement

C143/C143M-26b

Standard Test Method for Slump of Concrete (Includes all amendments and changes 8/6/2026).

C138/C138M-24a

Standard Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete (Includes all amendments and changes 8/6/2024).

C136-06

Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates

C78-09

Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using Simple Beam with Third-Point Loading)

C33-07

Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates

C39/C39M-26

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

C183-13

Standard Practice for Sampling and the Amount of Testing of Hydraulic Cement

C192/C192M-26b

Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory (Includes all amendments and changes 10/13/2026).

C231-09

Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method

C157/C157M-24e1

Standard Test Method for Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete (Includes all amendments and changes 10/14/2024).

C260-10

Standard Specification for Air-Entraining Admixtures for Concrete

ACI 211.1–91

Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal, Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.org.

Manual

of Aggregate and Concrete Testing

E1252-98(2021)

Standard Practice for General Techniques for Obtaining Infrared Spectra for Qualitative Analysis

E100-19(2024)

Standard Specification for ASTM Hydrometers

D1193-24

Standard Specification for Reagent Water

D891-25

Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity, Apparent, of Liquid Industrial Chemicals

D75-03

Standard Practice for Sampling Aggregates

C1017-C1017M-13

Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures for Use in Producing Flowing Concrete

C666/C666M-26

Standard Test Method for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing

C403/C403M-23

Standard Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance