TECHNOLOGIES: Modern solutions of admixtures for high performance concrete

The global market of additives for concrete (category which includes, among others, all plasticizers, accelerating agents and retardants, water repellent solutions, etc.) is dominated by some large international corporations, like Dow Chemical, BASF, Sika, Grace, Mapei etc. According to recent studies, the largest share in terms of quantity is owned by normal plasticizers, while value analysis indicates a dominance of super-plasticizers, with a volume of USD 3.16 billion in 2014. This area is interesting especially considering the impact that these solutions exercised over modern building quality, given that the strength and stability constitute essential features for building performance. Innovation plays an extremely important role and it is essential to develop new solutions to ensure production of superior varieties needed for use in applications that require compliance with strict quality requirements. According to the generally accepted definition, super-plasticizers are additives whose major task is to reduce by 30% the amount of water needed to achieve concrete, while maintaining constant the flowing characteristics. Other benefits obtained by using such a method, in addition to the low water-cement ratio, are the particular resistance of the material obtained and its adaptability to the use for the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure. Developed in Japan in the 60s and later in Germany, these additives have made it possible to design innovative models of mortar and concrete. A known application is the concrete which includes the so-called "fly ash", comprising solid microparticles contained in the gases generated by combustion processes. This component has in the analyzed products a quota of 50% - 60%, and thanks to super-plasticizers, the addition of water required is extremely low. In some cases, the system is improved by the incorporation of polypropylene fibers, which contributes to a significant increase adaptability to a range of other applications beside the traditional building ones like retaining walls, columns, monolithic concrete structures etc.