What are Early Strength Agents?

The US President recently said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had driven up the prices of all the world's major food staples, including wheat, corn, barley, oilseeds and edible oils, and that Russia and Ukraine together supplied more than 25% of the world's wheat exports and about 20% of its barley exports. 

To address the food shortage, the Biden administration says it plans to increase the number of counties eligible for insurance for double cropping. Double cropping is when farmers grow two different crops a year on the same field. 

Under Biden's plan, the number of counties eligible for two-season crop insurance would increase by 681, for a total of 1,935. 

The UN has warned that up to 1.7bn people are "highly exposed" to the domino effect of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the global food, energy, and financial systems.  The agency says conflict could increase hunger in countries where people are already suffering from malnutrition.

Even countries where food is less scarce are being hit by rising prices. U.S. grocery prices rose 1% in April, compared with a 10.8% increase over the past 12 months, the Labor Department said recently.

According to the White House, global food prices have risen nearly 13 percent since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Besides, affected by the ever-changing international situation, the supply and prices of international bulk early strength agent are still very uncertain.

What are Early Strength Agents?

Early strength agent is an admixture which accelerates the development of concrete early strength and has no significant effect on later strength. Early strength agent can accelerate the hardening process of concrete under normal temperature and low-temperature load temperature (not less than -5℃), and is used for winter construction and emergency repair projects.

Early Strength Agents Performance

Early strength agent refers to the admixture which can accelerate the development of early strength of concrete. The main mechanism of action is to accelerate the hydration rate of cement, and accelerate the early crystallization and precipitation of hydration products. The main function is to shorten the concrete construction curing period, speed up the construction progress, and improve the template turnover rate. 

Where can Early Strength Agents be Used? 

1. Early strength agent is suitable for steam curing concrete and normal temperature, low temperature and minimum temperature is not less than -5℃ environment construction of early strength requirements of concrete engineering. Early strength agent should not be used in hot environment. 

2.The chemical substances that harm the human body or pollute the environment after mixing concrete shall not be used as early strength agents. Early strength agent containing hexavalent chromium salt, nitrite, and other harmful components is strictly prohibited for drinking water engineering and food contact engineering. Ammonium nitrate shall not be used in office, residential and other construction projects.

Classification of Early Strength Agents 

Early strength agents mainly include inorganic salts (chlorine salts, phosphates) and organic amines, and organic-inorganic compounds.

1. Chloride salts early strength agents

Chlorine salts early strength agent mainly includes calcium chloride, potassium chloride, aluminum chloride and ferric chloride, among which calcium chloride is the most widely used. Calcium chloride is a white powdery substance, and its appropriate dosage is 0.5% ~ 1.0% of the cement quality, which can improve the 3d strength of concrete by 50% ~ 10% and the 7d strength by 20% ~ 40%. Meanwhile, it can reduce the freezing point of water in concrete and prevent concrete from being frozen in the early stage.

Using calcium chloride as early strength agent, the biggest disadvantage of containing Cl- ions, will make steel corrosion, and lead to concrete cracking. In order to inhibit the corrosion effect of calcium chloride on steel bars, calcium chloride and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) are often combined. 

2. Sulfate early strength agents

Sulfate early strength agent, mainly sodium sulfate, calcium thiosulfate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum potassium sulfate, and sodium sulfate is used more. Sodium sulfate is white powdery thing, the general admixture amount is 0.5% ~ 2.0%, when admixture amount is 1% ~ 1.5%, the time that achieves concrete design strength 70% can shorten half or so. 

Sodium sulfate has no corrosion effect on steel bar, and is suitable for concrete which is not allowed to be mixed with chlorine salt. However, due to its action with calcium hydroxide to generate strong alkali NaOH, in order to prevent alkali aggregate reaction, sodium sulfate is strictly prohibited for concrete containing active aggregate, at the same time, attention should be paid to not excessive mixing, so as not to lead to the late expansion of concrete cracking damage, and prevent concrete surface "frost". 

3. Organic amine early strength agents

Organic amine early strength agents mainly include triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine and so on, among which triethanolamine is the best early strength agent. 

Triethanolamine is a colorless or light-yellow oily liquid, alkaline, and soluble in water. The early strength of concrete can be improved by adding 0.02% ~ 0.05% of cement quality.  Triethanolamine has a slight retarding effect on concrete, and too much of it will cause serious retarding and concrete strength to drop, so the dosage should be strictly controlled.

Concrete Additives Supplier

TRUNNANO is a reliable concrete additives supplier with over 12-year experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development.

If you are looking for high-quality concrete early strength agents, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com)

We accept payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union, and Paypal. TRUNNANO will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea.

Greece will hand over Iranian oil it intercepted from a Russian-flagged tanker to the United States at the request of the U.S. Justice Department, Greek port police said recently, AFP reported. The decision angered Tehran.  

In April, Greek authorities reportedly seized a Russian oil tanker, the Pegas, which was said to be heading to the Turkish port of Marmara.  

Reports say the ship was docked in Calistos Bay with a crew of several people said to be Russian. The Greek coast guard said the ship had been renamed the Lana.  

The report notes that the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia after the conflict broke out in February. Greek authorities seized the tanker in accordance with European Union sanctions.  

According to information at the time, the tanker was carrying 115,000 tons of Iranian oil.  

Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization strongly protested Greece's decision, calling it an "international bandit." "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not give up its legitimate rights and expects the Greek government to abide by its international obligations in the area of navigation and shipping," it said in a statement on its website.  

Iran's Foreign Ministry, through the International Maritime Organization, called on the Greek government to release the tanker and its crew overnight, adding that "the Americans discharged their cargo," the report said.  

Athens did not immediately respond to the Iranian protest and gave no further details about the oil on board or how it was handed over to the United States, the report said.

The early strength agent price is expected to increase in the next few days affected by the change in supply and demand markets.

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