Do admixtures such as plasticizers, retarders, or accelerators affect the Ashford Formula?
A. No, provided the admixtures are not present in quantities that exceed manufacturer’s recommendations. Note: The accelerator calcium chloride has in recent years become less popular as an admixture. It can cause slab discoloration, increased corrosion of imbedded reinforcement, increased thermal cracking, and decreased resistance to sulfates. The problems associated with calcium chloride can occur whether the Ashford Formula is applied or not.
No, provided the admixtures are not present in quantities that exceed manufacturer’s recommendations. Note: The accelerator calcium chloride has in recent years become less popular as an admixture. It can cause slab discoloration, increased corrosion of imbedded reinforcement, increased thermal cracking, and decreased resistance to sulfates. The problems associated with calcium chloride can occur whether the Ashford Formula is applied or not.
