Blogs

The motives to replace clinker with supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) are well known. However, granulated blast furnace slag, natural pozzolanes, qualified fly ash and further SCM have a limited availability; the total potential replacement of the global clinker production is less than 30%. Limestone is increasingly being used as a component in Portland-Limestone cements: Sika offers an additive to enhance grinding and performance.

Concrete is in many ways an ideal building material – locally available, cheap, perfect composite material when combined with steel and highly durable and easy-to-work-with when used with Sika products. However, it is not so perfect ecologically - it is the second most used substance on earth after water consuming many resources, its most important ingredient is responsible for 7% of global CO₂ emissions, whereby production is an energy intensive process.

3D concrete printing (3DCP) is a form of cementitious, additive manufacturing used to fabricate buildings, houses or construction components in completely new shapes not previously possible with traditional concrete formwork.

Successful sprayed concrete requires the combination of many aspects of modern concrete technology especially concrete admixture chemistry, together with modern materials handling technology. The increasing demands for cost-effectiveness and the protection of health and the environment mean that sprayed concrete has been in continuous development. Thanks to more than one hundred years of experience, expert knowledge and a focus on performance and economy, Sika is able to provide the newest generation of sprayed concrete solutions.

Sika has succeeded in developing a highly efficient process to separate and reuse components of demolished concrete and increase the recycled aggregates' quality. The old concrete is broken down into individual parts - aggregates, sand, and fine powdered material - in a simple process which also binds a significant amount of CO2.

My job is to represent Sika in the validation / design implementation of concrete for some of the UK’s major and independent ready-mix concrete suppliers.

January saw the lowest temperatures in the UK since February 2016, and with the potential for more cold snaps on the way, it’s a good time to review the procedures for placing concrete in cold weather.

SikaFiber®-1050 B&BA HF is a new steel fibre solution launched by Sika in order to provide a cost-effective, ‘no fuss’ alternative to steel mesh-reinforced structural topping installations.

Waterproof concrete is an impermeable concrete used for long-lasting, durable watertight construction. To improve the impermeability of the concrete, water-resisting admixtures can be added. Nevertheless, design and construction of a watertight concrete structure is a system approach, and waterproof concrete is only one element of it. Water impermeability is determined by fulfilling requirements to limit water permeability through the concrete itself, the joints, installation parts and cracks.

First used in the UK more than 60 years ago, the Sika® Watertight Concrete system is as flexible as it ever was. Not only does the system allow for the use of cement replacements (GGBS, PFA), but also a wide range of aggregate types can be used with the system. Due to Sika® Watertight Concrete system’s impressive benefits, it is now the most widely used system of its type in the UK.

Slipform construction is a construction method in which concrete is poured into a continuously moving form. It is a method for vertically extruding a reinforced concrete section and is suitable for the construction of core walls in high-rise structures: lift shafts, stair shafts, towers, etc. Requiring little crane-time during construction, Slipform is a self-contained formwork system that can also apply to horizontal structures such as central reservations in road construction.

It took about 50 years for television to transform from black and white to glorious technicolour; the availability of pigmentation to give concrete shades other than grey took infinitely longer. The wait was worth it, however, as the colourisation of this otherwise drab-looking material has given it a new lease of life in terms of its usage; brightening our commercial and domestic worlds in the process.

FACT: Kaspar Winkler first used watertight concrete in the Gotthard Tunnel under the Swiss Alps.

Almost every batch of aggregate will come with some level of contaminant, the key to improving their performance in concrete is understanding the type, quantity and variability of the contamination.

A Microsilica admixture for ultra-high performing concrete.

Following the successful acquisition and integration of the global Concrete Fibres business from Propex Holding LLC, Sika now has one of the widest ranges of fibres available on the market. The perfect addition to Sika’s concrete systems, required predominantly for the construction of structural concrete slabs, composite metal decks and precast concrete, the acquired business included a 12,000 sqm production facility, enabling the firm to significantly increase capacity for both micro and macro synthetic fibres.

A liquid admixture for high-range water reducer and superplasticiser.

Watch our overview video on fibre reinforced concrete.

The areas in which self-compacting concrete is used have increased considerably since it was developed in earthquake zones throughout Asia where structural columns attached to tall buildings were heavily congested with steel reinforcement. Self-compacting concrete was designed to flow around this type of reinforcement and provide a fully-compacted, durable concrete to work in conjunction with steel.

Concreting in hot weather provides a set of unique challenges for contractors and is only possible at high temperatures if special protective measures are provided.