Air Entrainment Mechanics in Cementitious Materials
Summary
Air entrainment in cementitious materials involves the deliberate incorporation of minute, evenly distributed bubbles into fresh mixtures. These bubbles form a protective network that enhances freeze–thaw resistance, improves workability and reduces segregation. Bubble formation is governed by surface tension at the air-liquid interface and the mechanical strength of the lamellae encapsulating each bubble. Chemical admixtures known as air-entraining agents (AEAs) adsorb at interfaces, stabilising nascent bubbles and controlling their size distribution. Once entrained, bubbles interact with cement particles and pore solution chemistry, influencing bubble stability, spacing and coalescence. The resulting air void system modifies the microstructure of the hardened paste, creating zones of stress relief under thermal or mechanical loading. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimising durability in cold climates, reducing material use, and tailoring performance in self-compacting and high-performance concretes. Advances in quantification and characterisation techniques have enabled more precise control of bubble geometry, paving the way for bespoke formulations that balance strength, durability and sustainability.
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Air Entrainment Mechanics in Cementitious Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in air entrainment mechanics in cementitious materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Air-entraining agent (AEA): A chemical admixture that promotes formation and stabilisation of microscopic air bubbles in fresh cementitious mixtures.
Air void spacing factor: The average distance between adjacent air bubbles, which influences resistance to freeze–thaw cycles.
Surfactant: A molecule that reduces surface tension at interfaces, facilitating bubble formation and stabilisation.
Zeta potential: A measure of the electrical charge at the particle–liquid interface, affecting interactions between cement grains and surfactant molecules.
Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ): A microstructurally distinct layer surrounding aggregate particles, where bubble clustering can critically affect mechanical properties.
References
- A Review on Bubble Stability in Fresh Concrete: Mechanisms and Main Factors. Materials (2020).
- An image analysis procedure to quantify the air void system of mortar and concrete. Materials and Structures (2014).
- Study of the Air-Entraining Behavior Based on the Interactions between Cement Particles and Selected Cationic, Anionic and Nonionic Surfactants. Materials (2020).
- Effect of Low Atmospheric Pressure on Air Entrainment in Cement-Based Materials: An On-Site Experimental Study at Different Elevations. Materials (2020).
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