Sources: Ceratech Inc., Alexandria, Va.; CP staff
By Don Marsh
A company known for packaged dry or pre-mixed concrete repair or mortar geared to specialty applications has announced a ‘carbon neutral system’ of liquid or powder agents imparting Types I–V portland cement performance characteristics in 100 percent fly ash binder mix designs.
With a green light-basked polar bear as trademark, Ceratech unveiled Ekkomaxx at the 2011 Precast Show (January 27–29, Charlotte, N.C.), noting initial testing efforts in manufactured concrete, where producers have greater control over specifications than their counterparts in ready mixed. The company is promoting the technology’s potential for rapid deployment at existing plants, with Class C fly ash charged from dedicated silo compartments and five Ekkomaxx admixtures dispensed from conventional ground or floor tanks.
Ceratech reports that performance characteristics associated with ASTM C150 cements can be achieved by manipulating ratios of the five proprietary admixtures. A chart showing compressive strength measurement trends of eight mixes, formulated with 500 lbs. to 900 lbs. of Ekkomaxx binder, indicates a range of 2,900 to 8,900 psi at seven days, and 4,600 to 10,000 psi at 28 days.
In precast operations, Ceratech underscores the cement system’s potential to a) reduce the number of conventional admixtures that would otherwise be maintained for water reduction and workability; b) lower curing expenses by proportioning dosages for accelerated strength gains; and, c) expand aggregate sourcing options due to an absence of prospective alkali silica reactivity rooted in Ekkomaxx cement chemistry. — www.ceratechinc.com