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Contractors seeking consistent quality concrete
in situations where poor or variable quality aggregates are the norm can
dramatically improve results with the addition of an innovative new product
from Mapei.

Servaas Le Roux, product managerconcrete admixtures, says
the
company’s new Dynamon MS 100 product is an acrylic-based admixture for concrete
where the variations in aggregates won’t affect the concrete characteristics
severely.

“This technically advanced product is formulated
to deal with aggregates in ready-mix and precast concrete containing high
amounts of fine parts such as clay and mica which use more water than
necessary. It lowers the water demand of such aggregates, allowing
manufacturers stable manufacturing conditions even though the raw materials are
not that stable. It is mainly used by concrete manufacturers to produce fluid
concrete.”

A further advantage of using Dynamon with less
than the best materials is it counteracts minerals that might make super plasticizing
the admixture less efficient. It means a lower dosage of super plasticizers is
needed but at the same time allows longer workability retention of the mix.
Although it is suitable for concrete production of any type, it is particularly
well suited to produce high consistency concrete, self-consolidating concrete,
pumped concrete and fair face concrete.

Mapei has a range of products complementing the
Dynamon MS 100 including super plasticizers in the same Dynamon range,
viscosity-modifying, fume-based powdered and retarding admixtures. The company
also recommends additional products to improve specialized concrete production
such as Expancrete, which is anexpanding
agent used in the production of shrinkage-compensated concrete.

Then there are form-release compounds from the
Mapeform Eco range and DMA used to strip formwork from concrete. Contractors
would also find the curing agents from the Mapecure range useful to protect
concrete from rapid water evaporation. Completing the range are fly-ash, lime-based
fillers, blast furnace slag and pozzolan.

Dynamon MS 100 is supplied in a ready-to-use
liquid form and can be added either to the mixing water or right after all the
other components such as cement, aggregates and mineral additives have been
added. After adding, Mapei SA recommends extended mixing time to ensure an even
distribution of it in the mix. It is most effective if applied in fluid
concrete with a super plasticizer.

For more information on MAPEI South Africa’s
Solutions and Innovative products, please contact Mapei South Africa at
011 552 8476