Outside the food industry, calcium formate is often used to
accelerate the concrete’s setting time, especially in winter. Apart
from the decreased concrete’s setting time, calcium formate also
enhances the concrete’s hardness. Calcium formate is very effective
when it come to the prevention of corrosion in metal substrates and
in the prevention of efflorescence. Additionally, it is used as a
fire retardant, for instance, in gypsum board.
Apart from the aforementioned uses, it is also used as the fuel
component in explosives that are designed to have deflagration
behavior.