Blogs and Technical Articles from Sika Concrete

Learn more on concrete industry updates, standards, how to guides and much more from Sika.

Butterfly on textured concrete wall
  • Concrete Admixture
  • Concrete

How to Make Concrete More Sustainable

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, cement, is responsible for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, whereby production is an energy intensive process.
The evaporation of cement additives dosed on hot clinker
  • Concrete
  • Cement Additive

Addressing the Unwanted Impacts of Grinding Aids

Grinding aids and strength enhancers are well known for their ability to increase cement mill productivity, and the mechanical strength of mortar and concrete. However, little information is available on the potential drawbacks of their usage. To close the gap, Sika Services addresses the possible impacts on health and safety and the environment, and on cement properties in production and use.
Concrete

Performance Enhancer for Portland Limestone Cement (PLC)

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.
Butterfly on textured concrete wall

How to Make Concrete More Sustainable

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.
Le Pavillon 3D concrete printed on site building in France with Constructions 3D

3D Concrete Printing

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.
Application of Shotcrete with Sigunit accelerator

Sprayed Concrete

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.
Recycling crushed concrete

reCO₂ver Concrete Recycling

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.

Day in the life of Steven Davie – The importance of Compressive Strength Testing

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.
Concrete
Civil engineer at construction site is inspecting ongoing works according to design drawings in difficult winter conditions

Cold weather concreting – How to avoid common mistakes

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.
Concrete

Introducing SikaFiber®-1050 B&BA HF for beam and block floors

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.
Concrete
Hydrophobic impregnation for protection of concrete structures

Watertight Concrete System

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.
Concularity infographic showing circular economy of concrete circle loop
  • Concrete
  • Concrete Admixture

Enable Circularity - Make Concrete More Resource Efficient

The linear economy, or one-time use, of concrete in construction leads to a scarcity of resources and more waste at every step in the journey of that concrete material. Whereas the circular economy allows for many benefits. Explore the Sika Sustainability Circle to learn how Sika enables circularity in the concrete lifecycle.
sika viscocrete technology truck
  • Concrete
  • Concrete Admixture

Concrete Admixtures: A Comprehensive Guide

Concrete admixtures are essential components used to enhance the properties of concrete mixes. This guide provides valuable insights into various types of concrete admixtures, their characteristics, European standards and applications.
Construction worker pouring ready mix concrete on building basement

Concrete Products for Building Contractors

Are you a building contractor or working in a similar field and looking for the best concrete products and solutions for all your projects?
NEW
Application of Shotcrete with Sigunit accelerator
  • Concrete
  • Concrete Repair
  • Shotcrete

Sprayed Concrete

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.
Concrete
Architectural textured concrete wall produced with Sika concrete admixtures at Limmat building in Zurich
  • Concrete
  • Precast Concrete
  • Watertight Concrete

Architectural Concrete

The ability to appreciate concrete as an aesthetically versatile construction material has led Sika to many innovations in architectural concrete. The flexibility of concrete in design enables the designer to create structures not possible with other construction materials. Combining this flexibility with Sika’s over one hundred years of experience and expertise in concrete formulation and optimization allows structures of true architectural value to be realized.
Concrete
in color
  • Concrete
  • Precast Concrete
  • Watertight Concrete

3D Concrete Printing

Cementitious 3D construction printing (3DCP) or 3D concrete printing is a form of additive manufacturing used to fabricate buildings or construction components in completely new shapes not previously possible with traditional concrete formwork.
Concrete
Hydrophobic impregnation for protection of concrete structures
  • Concrete
  • Waterproofing
  • Watertight Concrete

Waterproof Concrete

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.
Concrete

Self-Compacting Concrete – Why Use It?

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.
Concrete

Pigmentation adding flexibility to the use and design of concrete

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.
Concrete
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