Antifreeze additives in mortar for masonry. Types, consumption, application

Undoubtedly, it is more difficult to engage in construction in the winter than in the summer. Most often, weather conditions do not have much to do with quality work. Usually, hard professional fronts continue to work in severe frosts, or masters who wish to move into their own homes as soon as possible. An invaluable help for those and others will be specialized antifreeze additives. The use of the latter prevents premature hardening of the cement.

What is the antifreeze additive in the solution?

As a rule, with a significant decrease in the ambient temperature, builders begin to experience additional difficulties in the course of working with concrete and all kinds of solutions. All because the compositions based on cement can not stand frost. So, at a temperature of -5 ^o C, it would seem that quality solutions cease to gain strength.

In recent years, masters are increasingly using antifreeze additives that can withstand the temperature drop to -35 ° C or more. Specialized compositions for cement mortars contain chemicals whose active components reduce the freezing point of water. As a result, concrete grasps in the masonry, even in extreme cold.

The problem of the organization of brickwork in frosts

When conducting construction in the winter time, it becomes most problematic to provide the structures with the necessary strength. When the temperature falls below zero, the liquid in the solution crystallizes. Thus, the process of hydration of cement ceases.

With an increase in air temperature, the ice formed inside the masonry and on the surface of the building material begins to melt, which necessarily causes a decrease in the adhesion of the solution. Another negative effect is the formation of small cavities in the structure of concrete, which can subsequently lead to a fairly rapid destruction of walls and ceilings.

Features of preparation of a solution

Despite the difficult working conditions, brick laying in winter can be no less qualitative than in the warm period of the year. However, in order to obtain the expected result, it is necessary to prepare a special solution, which must contain antifreeze additives.

Preparing the construction mix, you need to take care of your personal safety. It should be borne in mind that virtually all antifreeze additives differ in composition on the basis of sufficiently aggressive chemicals that can cause harm to health. Therefore, during the preparation of concrete it is necessary to work in tight gloves, goggles, rubber boots and, if possible, in overalls.

For the above reason, building mixtures containing poisonous substances are not recommended for the construction of foundations and bearing walls of buildings. Also antifreeze additives in masonry mortar are forbidden to be used for performing work inside living quarters.

Types of antifreeze additives

In order to cement a sufficient level of strength before the liquid freezes, experts traditionally use the following antifreeze additives in mortar:

• Potash (potassium carbonate).
• Sodium formate.
• Sodium chloride.
• Sodium nitrite (sodium nitride).
• Potassium chloride.

For work in conditions of lowering the ambient temperature to -15 ^о С, the optimum solution will be the use of antifreeze additives in the form of nitrite and sodium formate.

With a more serious cooling to -30 ° C, it is advisable to use potash. The advantage of this solution is protection against corrosion in the case of erection of reinforced floors. The use of potash also helps prevent the appearance of highs on the solidified solution. As for chlorine-containing additives, the latter do not slow down the destruction of reinforcing parts of building structures.

Antifreeze additive: consumption

When making compositions for brickwork, it is important to observe the required proportions. They depend, first of all, on the temperature of the environment.

Let's consider the averaged norms, typical for the application of the most popular "antifreeze", in the table. It reflects the consumption of antifreeze additives as a percentage of the mass of cement.

Plasticizers

Antifreeze additive in the solution can be replaced with special plasticizers, which increase the elasticity of the building mix and reduce the need for the use of liquid. Thanks to the use of the latter for several days in the stacked composition, practically no changes occur. Thus, the solution has time to grasp even with significant frost.

In addition to masonry, it is possible to use such a specific antifreeze additive for glue, preparation of mixtures for the installation of self-leveling floors, while performing concrete works. Plasticizing substances are mixed with a minimum amount of water. Their content in the solution is about 5% of the weight of the cement. Observance of this proportion is sufficient to perform reliable masonry in conditions of low temperatures.

What you need to know about performing masonry work in the winter?

In order not to be disappointed in the results of construction activities that are performed with negative air temperature, it is enough to pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. For masonry it is forbidden to use building materials covered with snow, frost or ice.
2. All components of the future solution, including antifreeze additives and plasticizers, should be stored in dry, ventilated rooms at room temperature.
3. Regardless of the composition of the solution and the temperature conditions, it is recommended that the laying in winter time be carried out as quickly as possible. Absence of procrastination allows substances to grasp faster.
4. Going to the break, the rows of masonry must be insulated with a polyethylene film or other suitable material suitable for the role of an effective temporary insulator.
5. As a basis for the preparation of the solution, it is worth using cement of the grade not lower than M-50. Mixing of components even in the case of "antifreeze" should be carried out in a warm room.
6. If it is necessary to work at low temperatures, preference should be given to purchasing ready-made solutions, in which antifreeze substances are added in optimal proportions even at the production stage.

Eventually

When doing construction work in winter, the main thing is to remember to add special antifreeze additives to the solution. However, the introduction of "antifreeze" in the cement composition seems appropriate only in the case of lowering the ambient temperature to -5 ^о С.

During the preparation of the solution, it is absolutely not recommended to use long-stored, old antifreeze additives with a doubtful shelf life. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the formation of abundant streaks and efflorescence on the surface of the structures.