Adding COCA COLA to CONCRETE: 28 days later (compressive strength test comparison).

We mixed a can of Coke into the hopper of a concrete pump, took samples before/after, and then sent them off to the lab for a 28 day compressive strength test comparison.

[@fritzpak4821]

So, the results of this video could be due to the ratio of sugar in the concrete. Sugar starts to hurt concrete after a certain point. Check out this video about the chemistry of sugar in concrete to learn more. th-cam.com/video/05KjT7Lqv04/w-d-xo.html

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Excellent video guys!!!!! I’ve pinned this one to the top of the comments 👌👌👌

[@natohammy2374]

Any chance it aided in slump which maybe just helped consolidation? My guess if you do a second time with a third cylinder, I bet the new one with no coke but a vibrator takes the bout!

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@natohammy2374 Impossible!!! I precisely, and very scientifically, consolidated each of the samples with that broken tree limb…. 😂😂😂

[@4FingerMongoose]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 I just watched this video and the result was quite opposite what I expected. So, could we say that in this matter we humans and concrete are the same?? Both enjoys refreshing cold Coke to the certain point. 🤣 Btw.. maybe you could have, I'm not saying, only suggesting, use the hopper vibrator to consolidate those specimen. Perchance in the future you know..?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@4FingerMongoose That’s a great idea actually. Definitely going to utilize the hoper grate vibe for future “scientific research” 😁😁😁

[@treyblack9736]

I’m glad that someone else tested it with the same results

[@mr.shannon6137]

Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make and share it. I had always been told sugar created a chemical reaction which stopped the hardening process.

[@WattsMiner]

Just use a good batch profile and a silicate based finishing film aide... and sugar water at the broom stage can give amazing exposed finishes or just use rigosol s

[@williamhunter-d1i]

Is it high fructose corn syrup or plain old white sugar?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

That’s a good question actually 🤔

[@vegetablesouper9379]

Curious to see what happens in the exact test with bentonite. And Slickpak

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Bentonite I’m confident would be junk (then again, I was also confident that Coca Cola would be junk). The Slick-Pack test I most definitely want to do!!!

[@newrealm9187]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979I heard it hardens faster. Not sure about it

[@MaxCrete]

real life.....diesel and hydraulic oil are always available near a pump.....
what does that do?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Sugar? Kills the concrete for during travel to the washout area and/or incase of emergencies (mechanical breakdown).

[@Kellydelaney-jo5hc]

Love the vids. Learning so much. 💪 Would love to see you do one on moves mid pour. They still stress me out!!!
Sugar is a natural chelating agent and thus acts as a retarded, however it can be unpredictable and easily contaminated. Synthetic retarded tend to be safer and more predictable products.
The coke looked like it acted a little like a plastersizer. Plastersizers free up locked water and make it soupy, the free water creates more hydration and thus stronger concrete.
These reactions have a lot to do with the chemical makeup of the cement and the gradation and moisture content of the sand and rock.

[@randallbernard2074]

I think the ratio of sugar to concrete was as such to retard the hydration event. Its almost the same thing as putting bud light on a hard spot in a slab, most people dont know that beer has just a little sugar and is great to save that forgotten corner.
I know for sure if way more sugar was applied that mud is junk

[@WattsMiner]

I just use a silicate based finishing aide.... way safer. And use batch profiles to your advantage...

[@AuroraWestMike]

I liked it

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I would never have bet in a million years that the Coke would test out the way it did.

[@natohammy2374]

My dad told me my grandpa (70+year union v finisher card still going. lol) used to grumble when guys spit on a slab while they were snapping and sawing because he claimed the natural sugars in your saliva would cause a surface spawl.......... so yeah, in other words, you just surprised at least one other guy like a mofo. Crazy!!!

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I don’t doubt it. Those old-school concrete finishers got Jedi knowledge that us relative young-bucks could learn a lot from for sure.

[@karanbanger4616]

How would coke zero or diet coke react to it

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Not having any sugar in them, it wouldn’t behave much different than just adding that same volume in water to the concrete.

[@jamessomero3617]

Try it with brown sugar

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Done that one a few times. Completely destroys the mud (although to be fair, I’m typically doping the hopper up with significantly more sugar than what was contained in this single can of Coke).

[@markrobinson6883]

Shotcrete mix doesn't even flinch about sugar, when in doubt, wash out

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I have a 5 pins bag of the good stuff for you Mark which may say otherwise 😂😂😂

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

It definitely takes a significant amount though. The delay-set product which we typically use doesn’t do squat to shotcrete (don’t ask me how I found this out) 😂😂😂

[@jeffhelt948]

I didn't think it would change at all

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

So I drove an hour to washout and the stuff in the pump was still slop. The Coke (in this instance) apparently killed the concrete in the short-term but resulted in higher compressive strength in the long-term.

[@darrickissinger3932]

So are you going to stop using sugar then?? Sorry im late my wifes mandatory vacation 😅

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

So we only use sugar when the job is done and we are heading to washout. It will remain a staple item for me until the day I retire 😁😁😁

[@darrickissinger3932]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 solid plan, only going to pull the brown powder off my trucks if you did, peer pressure and all