MAPEI

SOLUTIONS
for the concrete industry
 TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
IN THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY
STARTS WITH MAPEI PRODUCTS.

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 MAPEI SOLUTIONS
for the Southern African
concrete market
Concrete admixtures within MAPEI ........................................................2

Ready-mixed concrete plasticising admixtures ............................ 4

Precast concrete plasticising admixtures .......................................... 8

• Precast admixtures for wet consistency elements
• Precast admixtures for semidry of extruded
elements

Concrete manufacturing enhancement ...........................................10

• Extended workability polymers
• Set retarding admixtures
• Hardening accelerators
• Viscosity modifying admixtures
• Form release agents
• Synthetic fibres
• Pozzolan-activity mineral additions
• Permeability-reducing admixtures
• Water-repelling admixtures
• Anti-washout admixtures
TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Expanding agents
• Drying shrinkage-reducing admixtures
• Clay mitigating admixtures
• Pumping aides
• Air entraining and foaming agents
• Concrete rescue packs
• Evaporation-retarding admixtures

Technical services ............................................................................................. 25

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 CONCRETE ADMIXTURES
within MAPEI

Since the discovery of plasticising agents in the 1930’s

concrete production has become a highly competitive
environment where precision is required in not only
manufacturing, but also transporting, placing and curing.

This type of precision is only possible through applying a

proactive approach to the design of concrete where careful
consideration of a mix’s required technical performance
is weighed up against the raw materials at a project’s
disposal.

Historically the term “Concrete Admixtures” refers to

plasticising agents capable of allowing for increased
workability or alternatively a reduction in paste content
but the product range has developed into a wide-ranging
field of products capable of optimising both costs and
functionality of concrete across its entire lifespan.

Thanks to Mapei’s extensive and consolidated world-wide

experience it has developed a comprehensive range of
products and solutions aimed at bringing technological
innovation to the concrete industry. Mapei uses the point
of application and the targeted consistency when using a
product to define four distinct product categories within
its Concrete Admixtures division. Apart from these four
product categories Mapei has various complimentary
products augmenting its product offering across the
entire range.
Cast in situ

Roller-compacted
Ready-mixed
eady-mixe
dy-m
y-m
m
concrete

Plastic Semidry
consistency consistency

Precast
astt c
co
concrete
conc Ready-mixed
elements
emen
m
men vibro-compressed
and extruded

Cast in concrete plant

Figure 1: Mapei’s product categories within the Concrete Admixtures division.

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 Ready-mixed concrete
plasticising admixtures

Due to the variability of raw material’s costs and

characteristics, travel distances and ambient temperatures
of projects in and around Southern Africa. Mapei South
Africa’s plasticisers for ready-mixed concrete are classified
terms of water reduction and workability retention.
LOW MODERATE HIGH VERY HIGH

TYPE C:
TYPE D:

VERY HIGH
Very high
Wet Very high
Precast water reduction
water reduction
& high
& workability
workability
retention
retention
Water Reduction

TYPE A:
TYPE B:
High HIGH
High
water reduction
water reduction
& moderate
& workability
workability
retention
retention

1st & 2nd Gen.

MODERATE

Plasticizers
Dry
Precast Moderate water
reduction
& workability
retention

Workability Retention

Apart from the above-mentioned classification Mapei

further distinguishes products capable of dealing with
various adverse raw material conditions within each
category thereby offering unique solutions to the specific
raw material and project related conditions of any project.

The nuances between products in each of the below

category lists are small and clients are advised to contact
Mapei’s Concrete Admixtures Division when deciding
between these products.

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1st & 2nd Generation Plasticisers

Moderate water reduction & workability retention

Whilst entry level plasticising products have been
surpassed by Poly Carboxylate Ether (PCE) superplasticisers
there are still some projects where its robust nature finds
an application. Products in this category are robust and
cost effective though limited in its ability to reduce water
and maintain workability. Products in this range are listed
below:

• Mapeplast N16
• Mapeplast N10
• Mapeplast R10
• Mapeplast N11
• Mapeplast P18
• Mapemix R64
• Mapefluid R104
• Mapefluid N100/KSA

Type-A Superplasticisers
High water reduction & moderate workability retention
Mapei’s range of superplasticisers allowing for high levels
of water reduction coupled with moderate workability
retention finds its application in most projects where
weather conditions, travel distances, raw material
characteristics and raw material costs are moderate when
considering their combined effect. These admixtures
provide robust solutions for manufacturers of ready-mixed
concrete. Products in this range are listed below:

• Dynamon Easy 33
• Dynamon Easy 31
• Dynamon Easy 34
• Dynamon SR1
• Dynamon SR12
• Dynamon SR3/10

Type-B Superplasticisers

High water reduction & workability retention

A limited quantity of projects requires high water reduction
coupled with high workability retention. This is typically

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 Ready-mixed concrete
plasticising admixtures

the case when raw material costs are fairly economical,

but travel distances or absorption rates are excessive. Two
of Mapei South Africa’s locally manufactured products
that fall into this category are listed below.

• Dynamon SR3/10 V2
• Dynamon Easy 31 PLUS

Type-C Superplasticisers
Very high water reduction & high workability retention
A further addition to Mapei’s readymix superplasticiser
product range deals with projects where very high water
reduction is coupled with high workability retention
requirements. These are typically used at projects with high
raw material costs and irregular travel distances or volatile
raw materials. Mapei South Africa’s locally manufactured
products that fall into this category are listed below.

• Dynamon Xtend W250 N

• Dynamon Xtend W350 R
• Dynamon SX14 V2
• Dynamon SX14 V3
• Dynamon SR3

Type-D Superplasticisers

Very high water reduction and workability retention

Mapei’s highest range of superplasticisers allows for very
high water reduction and very high workability retention.
These products find their application when a project
team has to negate two or more aggravating factors on
site. These factors may include excessive raw material
costs due to distances away from the suppliers; excessive
travel distances; extremely high temperatures or even
aggregates that are particularly problematic due to any
of a number of reasons. Products in this range are listed
below:

• Dynamon Xtend W500 N

• Dynamon Xtend W505 N
• Chronos VF 202

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 Precast concrete
plasticising admixtures

The competitive nature of the precast industry requires

of a manufacturer to find ways in which to leverage the
characteristics of the raw materials at its disposal in order
to achieve the most competitive manufacturing costs.
Mapei categorises its solutions for the precast concrete
industry into two distinct focus areas where products
in each category are developed in order to optimise the
production processes and to achieve increasingly high
quality levels.

Precast Admixtures for Wet Consistency

Elements

The precast concrete industry supports an array of

manufacturing processes that are aimed at facilitating
high early age concrete strengths when using wet
consistency concrete. Mapei South Africa offers various
products in this category where the optimal solution
at a specific project is hinges on both raw material and
process limitations. These products are:

• Dynamon NRG 1032

• Dynamon Xtend W251
• Chronos VF 204
• Dynamon SP 1
• Dynamon SP 5600
• Dynamon SX 14
• Dynamon SX 18

Precast Admixtures for Semidry or Extruded

Elements

Vibromix is the line of Mapei admixtures specifically

designed to optimise the manufacturing of semidry
concrete elements. Vibromix admixtures improves the
mixing process, the mixtures workability, and shortens
the filling time. Vibromix accelerators guarantee a faster
hardening in cold weather and Vibromix water-repellents
reduce the efflorescence phenomenon.

• Dynamon SX 10
• Vibromix L2
• Vibromix L5
• Vibromix C3

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 Concrete manufacturing
enhancement

Mapei has an extensive range of complementary products available to meet the

requirements of the concrete industry. These products allow concrete users to control
the nature of concrete and to safely and accurately manage the various life cycle stages
of the concrete.

Extended Workability
admixtures

In Southern African climates concrete projects are often subjected to extremely hot
ambient temperatures. Mapei offers a range of admixtures specifically formulated to
extend workability without compromising initial set.

• Dynamon EW
Admixture to maintain the consistency of ready-mixed concrete for extended
periods.

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 Set-retarding
admixtures

Mapei also offers a range set retardation products for use in applications ranging from
extreme heat conditions where delayed setting time has no negative effect on the project
outcome to elements requiring architectural exposed aggregate finishes.

• Mapetard
Admixture used to delay the setting time of concrete.
• Mapetard Plus
High performing set retarding admixture.
• Mapetard S
Surface retarder for construction joints.
• Mapetard SD 2000
High performing set retarding admixture particularly suited to shotcrete
applications.
• Mapewash PO
Surface set retardant with a curing effect to create an exposed aggregate finish on
the surface of concrete element.

Hardening accelerator
admixtures

Mapei hardening accelerators are designed to speed up the hydration rate of cement
increasing its early age strength. Thanks to the rapid development of mechanical
strength, hardening accelerators enable thermal curing cycles to be optimised and
reduce form-stripping times even at low temperatures.

Concrete accelerators range

• Dynamon HAA
Chloride-free hardening accelerator for reinforced concrete
with high initial mechanical strength.
• Mapefast C
Chloride based accelerator for cementitous mortar and concrete.

Shotcrete accelerators range

• Mapequick AF350
Low range liquid alkali free hardening accelerator for shotcrete.
• Mapequick AF1000
Mid-range liquid alkali free hardening accelerator for shotcrete.
• Mapequick AF70
High range liquid alkali free hardening accelerator for shotcrete.

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 Viscosity-modifying
admixtures

Mapei viscosity-modifying admixtures

are designed to control surface bleeding
and segregation in self-compacting
concrete mixes.

• Viscostar 3K
Multi-functional viscosity-modifying
admixture for the production of self-
compacting concrete with no fillers.

Form-release
agents

Form-release agents are chemical products applied on the

surface of formwork to reduce the effort required with the
stripping of concrete elements. Mapei offers an extensive
line of form-release agents to accommodate a wide range of
technical and environmental requirements. Mapei recently
developed a family of vegetable oils and emulsion-based
form-release agents which, apart from offering ease of
application and surface finish of elements and structures, are
also non-toxic for users and are easy to dispose of. The Mapei
line of form-release agents follow the Assiad classification
system according to the chemical nature of the oils used
and are grouped according to their area of use.

• DMA 1000
Emulsifiable form-release agent for wood work.
• DMA 2000
Universal form-release agent with chemical and physical
action.
• Mapeform Eco 31
Vegetable oil-based form-release solution in water
emulsion for fair-faced concrete.

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 Synthetic Fibres
admixtures

Structural polymer fibres are synthetic fibres available in various lengths and diameters
that, when added to concrete, provide additional three-dimensional strengthening or
replace traditional lightweight reinforcement, thereby improving its energy-absorbing
capacity. Synthetic fibres improve the toughness index of concrete and allows for a
higher level of post-cracking mechanical strength. Microfibers, on the other hand, are
used for non-structural applications, such as to reduce micro-cracking caused by plastic
shrinkage or to reduce concrete’s resistance to fire by adding a higher dose of fibres.

Structural fibres range

• Mapefibre ST42
Polypropylene structural fibre for the replacement
of steel reinforcement in order to reduce mass and cost.
• Mapefibre BG 55
Polypropylene structural fibre with specific
characteristics allowing for sprayed concrete with high ductility.
• Mapefibre Steel 85/50
Steel structural fibre for use in specific
applications such as radiation control.

Plastic shrinkage control

• Mapefibre NS12
Anti-shrinkage polypropylene fibres to reduce cracking caused
by plastic shrinkage. Length 12 mm.
• Mapefibre NS18
Anti-shrinkage polypropylene fibres to reduce cracking caused by plastic shrinkage.
Length 18 mm.

Pozzolan-activity
admixtures

Mapei offers a powdered mineral admixture

that improve the rheological and mechanical
properties of concrete. This product also extends
the service life of concrete structures.

• Mapeplast SF
Powdered Pozzolan-activity product.
Densified silica fume addition.

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 Permeability-reducing
admixtures

Crystallising agents are Permeability-reducing admixtures. By reacting with the water

in concrete, they activate a secondary crystallisation process that progressively reduces
micro-cracking and capillary porosity in the concrete.

CM
Crystallising 150 140

admixtures 90
100 80
50 60
• Idrocrete KR 1000 50 40
Powdered crystallising 20
10
admixture for the 0 W/C
production of watertight 0,65 0,55 0,5 0,45

concrete. Control Idrocrete KR 1000 @ 2% bwc

Effect of Idrocrete KR 1000 on the maximum

penetration depth of water in concrete

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 Water-repelling
admixtures

For the production of concrete blocks and self-locking blocks, Mapei has created a specific
line of products to reduce water absorption and efflorescence phenomenon. Mapei mass
water-repelling admixtures guarantee uniform colour and resistance to rain water.

• Idrocrete DM
Water-repelling admixture for concrete and mortar with low water absorption and
no efflorescence.

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 Anti-washout
admixtures

In order to accommodate under water placement of concrete Mapei offers an anti-wash-

out admixture. Mapei anti-washout admixtures allow concrete to be placed under water
without segregating.

• Mapeplast UW
Anti-washout admixture for use in under water placement of concrete.

Expanding
agents

Shrinkage in concrete is the cause of many aesthetic and structural defects. Mapei has
developed an array of prodcuts dealing with shrinkage of various applications.

• Cablejet
plasticizing and expanding agent for preparing shirnkage-free, highkly fluid
pumpable slurries.
• Expancrete
expansive agent for shrinkage compensating concrete.

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 Drying-shrinkage-reducing
admixtures

Mapei shrinkage-reducing admixtures lower the effect of the drying shrinkage of

concrete by acting on the surface tension of water in the capillary pores of the concrete
and therefore reducing the pressure generated inside the pores.

• Mapecure SRA 27
Drying shrinkage reducing liquid admixture..

702
562
420 370

0 litres/m3 3 litres/m3 5 litres/m3 7 litres/m3

Mapecure SRA 27
Concrete shrinkage by using different dosages of SRA admixtures
(Water/cement ratio 0.55)

Clay mitigating
admixtures

Southern African soil conditions are unique in the sense that the variety of rock formations
co-existing on this part of the continent are virtually unequalled. Concrete users in
Southern Africa are often forced to use aggregates that show extreme levels of absorption.
In this regard Mapei offers a clay mitigating admixture that reduce the absorption levels
of aggregates.

• Dynamon MS100
Admixture used to mitigate unusually high absorption levels of aggregates.

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 Pumping
aids

Pumping for large distances can lead to a blockage of pipeline and segregation and
bleeding of concrete mix. A pumping aid modifies the cement paste rheology and helps
for an enhanced lubrication of the pipeline.

• Mapestart 1
Powder pumping aid admixture used to lubricate pump lines upon initiating the
pumping process.

Concrete rescue packs

It is well known that time and timing is one of the most critical considerations in the
construction sector. Even so construction project teams often run into situations where
delays on site causes concrete in a delivery vehicle to set whilst waiting. Mapei offers
rescue packs capable of restoring workability in cases of emergency.

• Dynamon RT Powder
Powder admixture to restore concrete workability.

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 Air entraining & foaming
agents

Whilst the compaction effort during the placement of concrete typically focuses on
expelling air from the concrete matrix modern manufacturing processes often uses
entrained air for purposes varying from fire resistance to lightweight concrete. Mapei
offers a range of products accommodating these various requirements.

• Mapeair AE 2
Air entrainment agent for concrete and cementitious mortars
• Mapeair LA/L
Liquid foaming agent for lightweight mortars and concretes.
• Mapeair LA/P
Powder foaming agent for lightweight mortars and concretes.

Evaporation-retarding
admixtures

Mapei evaporation-retarding agents are liquid admixtures applied on the surface of fresh,
placed concrete to extend the time available to carry out finishing operations and improve
the final finish of concrete.

• Mapecure E
Anti-evaporation agent in water emulsion for use with concrete.
• Mapecure E50
Film forming curing compound in water emulsion for use with concrete.
• Mapecrete Film
Evaporation retarding agent and surface finishing aid for concrete panels.

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 Technical
Services

Mapei offers an extensive range of high quality products specifically designed for the precast and
readymix concrete market supported by a network of local specialised technical support teams.
With the support of its Germiston based laboratory, Mapei is able to provide technical support
for customers by designing concrete mixes and to control the production process. The Technical
Services Department carries out tests on raw materials (cement, aggregates, admixtures, etc.) and
on concrete mixes to measure its mechanical characteristics at both fresh and hardened states to
ensure that we deliver the best results for our customers..

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 MK1017030 (GBXZA) 5/2021
EVERYTHING’S OK
WITH MAPEI

MAPEI South Africa

50 Smith Road, Roodekop,
Germiston, 1401.
+27 11 552 8476
www.mapei.co.za
info@mapei.co.za