Analyzing the Use of Gum Arabic as a Concrete Admixture

Abstract

This study revolves around the use of Gum Arabic as retarding water-reducing admixture. Retarding agents are used to counter the hydration process of cement as its slowdowns the retarding process especially in the areas where the temperature is a bit elevated. Gum Arabic which consists of soluble sugar tends to use it as a water-reducing admixture. Many factors affect the use of retarders however, the economic factor is one of the reasons to use this retarding agent as other agents are much more expensive and are far from the reach of normal consumers. A pure form of Gum Arabic is used in concrete mixes after being crushed into powder. It is extracted from (Hashab) trees (in western Sudan). Mechanical properties have been studied using Gum Arabic with a substitution level of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5 % corresponding to cement and a varying w/c ratio from 0.45-0.6 The addition of gum Arabic increases the slump and decreases the water demand of concrete. However, the compressive and flexural strength tends to decrease with an increase in gum Arabic substitution having the same w/c ratio. The sample containing a w/c ratio of 0.45 and gum Arabic addition of 1.5% showed better results among all the mixes.