Development of a Novel Viscosity Modifier Agent for Cementitious Materials: Preliminary Study

Concrete compositions demand products in order to meet certain requirements and specific properties. For the production of self-compacting concrete, a certain amount of fine materials and/or chemical products should be added to the mix as viscosity modifying agents that will enable a mixture with enough flowability, and that should show stability. This paper presents preliminary results of a novel viscosity modifying agent based on a biopolymer (chitosan) found in the residues of the fishing industry. The effects of the product were tested in cement pastes by means of typical flow tests and rheological measurements. The new admixture promotes an increase in the plastic viscosity and yield stress of fluid cement pastes resulting in stable and fluid mixtures.