Sources: Xypex Chemical Corp., Vancouver, B.C.; CP staff The innovation behind Xypex Chemical’s crystalline waterproofing technology will be featured in “Concrete Solutions Provided by Admixtures,” an Inside the Blueprint series episode airing June 19 (2 p.m. Eastern) on Fox Business News, July 10 on Bloomberg News (10 a.m. Eastern), and in syndication after.
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Holcombe Mixers arrived at World of Concrete 2022 with the G2, one of the Las Vegas show’s major equipment introductions and representing what Managing Partner Brent Holcombe frames as “the new frontier of volumetric concrete. The G2 is breaking boundaries with the first-ever moisture control system with dynamic calibration, plus a cement speed responsive gate optimization aggregate system. These next-generation…
Read MoreSources: Sika AG, Baar, Switzerland; CP staff The Swiss parent company of New Jersey-based Sika Corp. will tailor a new family of concrete admixtures and cement additives around the chemistry and behavior of an emerging binder known as LC3, or Limestone Calcined Clay Cement. Through work with Sika AG and peers, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology officials view the material…
Read MoreSource: CP staff Domestic and overseas chemical processors and distributors indicate potential price increases in the 40-75 percent range for sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN), a key compound concrete admixture producers use in non-chloride set accelerators, mid-range water reducers and strength-enhancing agents.
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After more than three years of the Environmental Protection Agency soliciting expert advice and public comment on issuing a proposed rulemaking potentially expanding the petroleum product spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) terms typical of concrete plant environmental permits, Administrator Andrew Wheeler has signed a final action establishing no new regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Read MoreSources: Chryso Group, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France; CP staff
The parent company of Texas-based Chryso Inc. has announced a range of admixture products and lab support services enabling concrete producers the option of using sands with low or high fines content, swelling clay deposits, or less than optimal shape.
Read MoreSources: IDTechEX Research, Boston; CP staff
A new article, “Graphene: The evolving application landscape,” projects early prototype and semi-commercial prototype phases over the next 8-10 years for concrete, cement and asphalt additives bearing graphene or carbon nanotubes. That observation is consistent with lab or field demonstrations by a handful of admixture developers eyeing performance properties attainable in finished concrete through dosages of nano-scale cylinders with wall thicknesses the diameter of a single carbon atom.
Read MoreSource: American Society of Concrete Contractors, St. Louis
The latest ASCC position statement, “Measuring Air Content in Non-Air-Entrained Concrete,” conveys contractors’ point of view for architects, engineers, owners and others. The document explains that while air content is reported in the mix design submitted for air-entrained concrete and measured in the field for compliance, air content measurements are rarely specified or measured for non-air-entrained concrete.
Read MoreSources: Cemex USA, Houston; CP staff
Cemex officials assembled just after Labor Day in Brooksville, Fla., to mark the producer’s first U.S. admixture blending and packaging facility. The automated, 21,000-sq.-ft. plant will ultimately service nearly 160 ready mixed plants throughout the Florida and Mid-South Regions, shipping up to 16 normal or high range water reducers, set accelerators or retarders, air-entraining agents and specialty agents by tote.
Read MoreSources: Pinova Inc., Brunswick, Ga.; CP staff
A convergence of routine market and rare natural forces could compel concrete producers using Vinsol resin-based admixtures to convert their mix designs to ones bearing alternative products meeting ASTM C260, Standard Specification for Air-Entraining Admixtures for Concrete requirements. Between this fall and much of 2018, producers will likely confront tight supplies of Vinsol-type air-entraining admixtures as the resin’s sole supplier addresses capacity and inventory challenges.
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