Glenium C 316
GLENIUM C 316 is free of chloride, is designed to meet
ASTM C 494 requirements for Type A and Type F and it
is also compatible with all cements meeting the ASTM
standards.
The new chemistry of GLENIUM C 316
What differentiates from the traditional high range water
reducing with good workability is a new, unique
mechanism of action that greatly improves the
effectiveness of cement dispersion.
Traditional high range water reducing like melamine and
naphthalene sulphonates are based on polymers which
are absorbed by the cement granules. They wrap around
the granules surface areas at the very early stage of the
concrete mixing process. The sulphonic groups of the
polymer chains increase the negative charge of the
cement particle surface and disperse these particles by
electrical repulsion.
This electrostatic mechanism causes the cement paste
to disperse and has the positive consequence of
requiring less mixing water to obtain a given concrete
workability. Hydration however starts as soon as the
cement particles get in contact with mixing water. The
rapid growth of hydration crystals will change the surface
mechanical of the particles and thus of set the free
dispersion of them.
GLENIUM C 316 has a different
chemical structure from the traditional high range water
reducing. It consists of a carboxylic ether polymer with
long side chains. At the beginning of the mixing process
it initiates the same electrostatic dispersion mechanism
as the traditional high range water reducing, but the side
chains linked to the polymer backbone generate a steric
hindrance which greatly stabilises the cement particles
ability to separate and disperse. With this process,
flowable concrete with greatly reduced water content is
obtained. The alkalinity created by the cement paste
allows the polymers of GLENIUM C 316 to “open up and
progressively release” many additional polymers chains
that will prevent the early flocculation or stiffening of the
mix.
The mechanism allows to obtain, compared to traditional
retarding high water reducing admixtures, considerably
longer workability, reduction of mixing water content and
higher early strengths.
In order to optimize special requirements the use of the
following complementary additives is suggested :
• air entraining agent MICRO AIR to improve
frost/thaw resistance;
• silica fume for high performance concrete (HPC) and
improve durability in chemical aggressive
environments;
• expanding agent RHEOMAC, for shrinkage
compensating concrete;
• synthetic fibres RICEM to prevent cracks due to
plastic shrinkage;
• curing agent MASTERKURE against too quick
evaporation of mixing water.