Usage of molasses in concrete as a water reducing and retarding admixture

Molasses is a by-product material like lignosulphonate, which is obtained from paper and sugar industries. Molasses shows plasticizing effect in concrete. In this study a comparison is made between molasses with 40% purity grade and lignosulphonate with respect to the improvements in properties of concrete. Three molasses obtained from different sugar factories are used in this study at two admixture dosages, such as 0.4% and 0.7% of cement dosage. Two types of concretes are prepared with two cement dosages, such as 270 and 320 kg/m³, respectively. The workability and setting times are determined at the fresh state and both compressive and flexural strength properties are measured on hardened concretes. Furthermore, durability properties are compared by using capillary and sulphate resistance tests. Molasses can be used as a Type D, if initial and final setting times and compressive strengths at 35 and 125 days which are measured in this work, are considered, and can be used as Type A because of reducing the dosage of admixture, in concrete in accordance with ASTM C 494 standard.