High Strength Concrete

High strength concrete, which is characterized by compressive strengths of 60 to 120 MPa and high tensile and flexural strength, is often specified in high-rise buildings, high loads bearing columns, precast elements, and earthquake areas. It is also often specified in concrete structures such as bridges, and airport and train stations that require wider spans and slender designs. It is designed to exhibit low permeability, high durability. Its denser concrete matrix yields higher resistance to pollutants and reduced creep. It incorporates silica fume, which contributes significantly to strength enhancement. Mix designs are based on high binder contents and incorporate new generation polycarboxylate-based high range water reducers to reduce water-cement ratios to levels as low as 0.25. Ultra high-performance concrete is usually fiber-reinforced with synthetic and/or steel fibers. The aggregates mix has to be carefully designed with reduced overall sand content, a fraction smaller than 0,125 mm and in the 2 to 4 mm range, and an increased proportion of aggregates in the 0.25 mm to 1.25 mm range.

Holderchem has accumulated the knowledge and expertise to design high-strength concrete mixes supplying concrete producers with pozzolanic additives such as Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), fly ash, and silica fume, new generation high range water reducers, and viscosity modifiers to achieve substantial reductions in water-cement ratios. It also supplies synthetic and steel fibers in concrete to achieve ultra-high performance.