BASF Pozzolith launches Rheoplus® 800S superplasticizer to reduce concrete drying shrinkage 

Tokyo, JAPAN, June 03, 2008 – BASF Pozzolith Ltd. today launched Rheoplus® 800S admixture, a new polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer specially developed to reduce the drying shrinkage of concrete and enhance the quality and durability of reinforced concrete structures.

Incorporating a novel shrinkage reducing agent, Rheoplus® 800S is able to reduce the concrete drying shrinkage by 5-15 percent versus an untreated concrete. This innovative superplasticizer complies with the concrete admixture standard of JIS A 6204 and helps customers to achieve both high performance water reduction and concrete drying shrinkage reduction simultaneously at the mixing plant.

Prolonging the longevity of concrete structures has become increasingly important in the Japanese construction industry.  According to “The Recommendations for Practices of Crack Control in Reinforced Concrete Buildings (Design and Construction)” published by the Architectural Institute of Japan in 2006, the strain in standard quality concrete should be under 800×10-6  strain to control cracks caused by drying shrinkage. This specification prompted concrete professionals to consider multiple methods to reduce drying shrinkage of concrete, including modifying the quality of aggregates like sand and gravel, or using expansion additives or shrinkage reducers, among others.

“With Rheoplus® 800S, concrete producers can simply achieve drying shrinkage reduction without spending additional efforts to modify aggregates or expansion additives and at the same time, the effects of superplasticizer are enabled,” said Takashi Haruki, President of BASF Pozzolith. “As the leading supplier in the construction chemicals industry, BASF Pozzolith is committed to providing innovative solutions to address customer’s needs and advance the sustainable development of the industry.”

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