EFFECT OF LITHIUM BASED ADMIXTURE ON ALKALI AGGREGATE REACTION IN CONCRETE - A STATE OF ART REPORT

Alkali aggregate reaction continues to be a very severe problem in term of concrete durability many despite physical and chemical mitigation techniques which successfully prevent it. For a long time aggregates have been considered as inert materials but later on, particularly, after1940‟sitwasclearlybrought out that the aggregates are not fully inert. Structures which fails due alkali silica reaction rate is high. In this paper, a critical review of the research work done so far on the suppression of alkali aggregate reaction in the presence of lithium compounds is provided. The existing literature has been thoroughly studied and the summary of the research findings are provided. It shows that, the lithium based admixtures are effective in suppression of alkali silica reaction and delayed ettringite formation. , if the dosage added are appropriate. The lithium compounds which can be used in concrete for the suppression of alkali silica reaction are LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiOH, LiOH.2H₂O, LiHNO₃, LiNO₃, LiCO₃, Li₂SO₄, Li₂HPO₄ . Among all the lithium compounds, LiNO₃ is very much effective and a promising one.