Influence of Water-Reducing Admixtures on Properties of Cement Paste—A Miniature Slump Test

Abstract A miniature slump test has been developed for the evaluation of the influence of water-reducing admixtures on the workability of neat portland cement pastes. Resulting paste pat areas rather than heights are measured, and the results are expressed as the percentage of water reduction. Relative effects of various admixtures on a portland cement are illustrated, and influences of specific admixtures on different cements are also shown. Effects of different superwater-reducing admixtures and combinations of ordinary and superwater-reducing admixtures are compared. The mini-slump method has also been used for the evaluation of the loss of workability (slump loss) with time for various admixtures and admixture combinations. The simplicity of the method facilitates accurate and effective evaluation of water-reducing admixtures.