SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE IMPACTS ON SUPERPLASTICISERS SALES
October 28, 2004

The Cement Admixture Association (CAA) reports a sustained growth in superplasticiser sales over the past three years and attributes much of this to the increasing use of self-compacting concrete.

Since 1993, total admixture sales have grown by over 250%, but up to 2000 superplasticiser sales had shown little volume growth and had actually fallen as a proportion of total admixture sales from 16% to 12%.

In the late 1990s, admixture companies introduced the new generation of polycarboxylate ether (PCE) based superplasticisers, which facilitated new thinking in concrete construction, including the concept of self-compacting concrete (SCC). PCEs are available in a range of polymer options that can be tailored to provide enhanced properties for specific concrete applications. These properties, which include very high fluidity, workability retention, water reductions in excess of 20%, low retardation and high early strength, have made SCC possible.

These developments, together with mounting publicity surrounding SCC, appears to have been the trigger for engineers to reassess the advantages that superplasticisers were able to offer. As a result, the use of superplasticisers has more than doubled since 2000 and sales volume now represents 27% of the admixture market.

It is not just PCE sales that have grown. The more traditional melamine and naphthalene based products have also shown an increase and still account for over half of total superplasticiser sales. However, it is the PCEs that have shown major growth with most of the use being in self-compacting concrete and flooring applications.

The CAA represents over 85% of UK admixture manufacture and is committed to offering the highest standards of product quality and support. For further information on PCEs, self-compacting concrete and other admixture related matters, contact the CAA secretary, Phone/Fax 01564 776362.

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