• A revolutionary technology that provides economical and ecological benefits to the construction industry.
Shanghai, September 17, 2009 – BASF’s Construction Chemicals business in China has today launched the concept of Smart Dynamic ConcreteTM (SDC), a new generation of highly flowable concrete which allows the construction industry to achieve faster and reliable concrete placement, higher concrete durability and improved energy efficiency during the placement process.
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SDC is able to optimize the concrete mix-designs with less cement consumption, thus reducing CO2 emission. |
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The highly flowable SDC enables contractors to achieve faster placement process lower cost and safer working environment because no vibration is needed. |
According to the China Concrete Association, the consumption of ready mixed concrete (RMC) exceeded 690 million cubic meters in 2008. This volume is expected to top 800 million cubic meters in 2009, as construction activity continues expanding and further conversion of site mixing to RMC occurs.
“We are proud to facilitate the birth of the new SDC technology in China, which we expect will move the concrete construction industry to the next level of technological capability,” said Mark Volmer, Group Vice President, responsible for BASF’s Construction Chemicals business in Asia Pacific. “Developed by our international team of scientists, the concept demonstrates how BASF’s concrete admixture innovations are able to support and advance the theme of sustainable construction.”
The SDC concept consists of a robust concrete mix design with less than 380 kg/m3 of total fines, a tailor-made GLENIUM? superplasticizer and RheoMATRIXTM, a BASF-exclusive, state-of-the-art Viscosity Modifying Agent (VMA), as the key element of this revolutionary concept. Due to the unique characteristics of the RheoMATRIXTM molecules, concrete mix-designs can now be optimized to achieve unmatched performance levels and offer benefits to multiple stakeholders in the construction value chain.
For contractors, SDC means faster placement process and reliable filling of reinforcement congested structure, hence lower costs, and a safer working environment because no vibration is needed. For owners, SDC results in buildings made with more durable concrete, subsequently longer life spans. For architects and designers, SDC allows them to design more complex shapes and get assurance that the designed concrete is really in the structure. For Ready Mix Concrete producers, SDC gives them the opportunity to provide value added concrete for their highest volume strength class (C30).
“SDC has many of the same values as conventional Self Consolidating Concrete, but it is more economical because it is specially designed for the 30 MPa strength class of concrete, which represents approximately 80% of the RMC market in China,” explained Dr. Bruce Christensen, Director of Technical, Marketing and Communications, BASF’s Construction Chemicals business Asia Pacific.
“By combining the stability advantages of traditional vibrated concrete with the fluidity characteristics of conventional high fines Self Consolidating Concrete, SDC is a smart technology to simplify the production and expand the application of highly fluid concrete into everyday concrete.” Christensen added.
About BASF’s Construction Chemicals division
BASF’s Construction Chemicals division is the leading supplier of chemical systems and formulations for the construction industry. Continuous innovation and tailor-made solutions ensure its customers are more successful. Its Admixture Systems business unit specifically helps customers in the ready-mix, precast, manufactured concrete and underground construction industries. The Construction Systems unit offers a wide range of products for sports and industrial flooring, external renders and wall insulation, expansion joints, wood preservatives as well as specialist repair mortars, tile adhesives and waterproofing membranes. The division operates production sites and sales centers in more than 50 countries and achieved sales of €2.2 billion with approximately 7,700 employees in 2008. For further information, please visit www.ap.cc.basf.com.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. It is one of the biggest foreign investors in the Chinese chemical industry. BASF has about 6,300 employees in Greater China and posted sales of about €4.2 billion in 2008. The company operates 19 BASF wholly owned subsidiaries and 10 BASF joint ventures in Greater China. For further information, please visit www.greater-china.basf.com
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