Powder AEA

What is Powder AEA?

AEA stands for air entraining admixture. Powder AEA is the dry form of the air entrainer, designed for dry mix mortar production where every component is combined before bagging or loading into silos.

UKCP offers a wide range of additives, including powder air entrainers, rapid set accelerators, retarders, water repellents and blends to suit customer needs. Powder AEA can be supplied as a single additive or built into a bespoke additive package.

How does air entrainment improve mortar?

Air entraining admixtures stabilise very small air bubbles as the mortar is mixed with water.

• Workability. The bubbles act like ball bearings between sand grains, making the mortar smoother, more plastic and easier to spread.
• Cohesion. The mortar holds together better on the board and trowel, with less bleeding and segregation.
• Water demand. A workable consistency can often be reached with less water.
• Durability. In the hardened mortar, the small voids relieve pressure from freezing water, which helps reduce frost damage in exposed brickwork, blockwork and renders.

Air entrainers are widely used as mortar plasticisers in cement and sand mortars. For a fuller explanation, read What Is an Air Entraining Agent and When Should You Use One?.

Where is Powder AEA used?

• Dry bagged mortars for bricklaying, blocklaying and pointing
• Silo mortars supplied to site in bulk
• Renders and plasters that need good workability and cohesion
• Bespoke additive blends for dry mortar manufacturers

How to use Powder AEA

Powder AEA is intended for use during mortar manufacture.

1. Dose accurately. Ask our technical support team for the dosage for your mix. Air entrainers work at small additions, and overdosing can reduce strength and bond.
2. Blend thoroughly. Make sure the powder is evenly distributed through the dry mix so every bag or silo load performs the same.
3. Consider the whole formulation. Sand grading, cement content, fillers and other additives all influence air content, so assess the formulation as a whole.
4. Trial and test. Run trial mixes with your own raw materials and check the fresh mortar before scaling up.
5. Guide the end user. Give clear mixing instructions on the bag, as mixing time affects air content.

Our technical support team can help you set dosage and assess performance with your materials.

Powder AEA or Liquid AEA?

See Liquid AEA for the liquid alternative, or browse the complete mortar admixtures range.

Packaging and supply

For current pack sizes, delivery options and storage guidance for Powder AEA, please contact UKCP.

Bespoke air entrainer blends from UKCP

Many dry mortar manufacturers buy several small addition additives from different suppliers. UKCP can source these raw materials, blend them into a single "black box" package and supply it in paper sacks or bulk bags. You then simply blend it with the sand, cement and fillers you already use on site.

Our in-house development team works with the raw materials from your own production site. Read more about bespoke additive packages for dry mortar manufacturers, or request a sample to get started.