What are Concrete Admixtures?
Admixtures are added to the four basic components of concrete: cement, sand, gravel/aggregates and water –during, the mixing/batching of the concrete.
Why are Admixtures used?
Concrete Admixtures are used to improve processing properties e.g., to change or to control the slump of the concrete, to influence hydration (i.e., to slow down or accelerate), to increase quality features (i.e., to improve the resistance to shrinkage cracks), or to create special properties such as reducing efflorescence.
When is ARCON-Fluid+Plus used?
ARCON-Fluid + Plus is used for the production of concrete that needs to look good such as cast stone, terrazzo, decorative concrete, architectural concrete… in order to achieve an even aggregate distribution throughout the surface. And thanks to the ARCON-Fluid+Plus you can reduce vibration significantly, if not even making a fully self-levelling mix.
When is HYDROMIX-Fluid 50 used?
HYDROMIX-Fluid 50 is mainly used in concrete where efflorescence can occur and may lead to complaints, especially when colour pigments are used, e.g. in paving stones. HYDROMIX-Fluid 50 reduces capillary water absorption, thus preventing efflorescence (efflorescense = whitish, difficult-to-get-rid-of-again residue on concrete surfaces that originates from humidity turning free lime into CaCO3).
When is TECHNOFIBER used?
TECHNOFIBER ECO 12 prevents the formation of ‘shrinkage cracks’ (also called plastic shrinkage cracks of microcracks) on concrete surfaces, often seen on terrazzo, industrial floors, cementitious screed, precast concrete and cast stone. All potentially prone to the formation of shrinkage cracks, if climatic conditions or other parameters are not perfect.