We are in a process of converting normal to good concretes to high performance waterproof concrete,” explains Sunny Surlaker, Head – Admixture Division, MC-Bauchemie (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Innovation and new developments are the key to today’s technical and market development. MC-Bauchemie, Germany invests 10 per cent of manpower and resources in R&D. Sunny Surlaker tells B2B Purchase how MC-Bauchemie is changing the perception on durability and sustainability of structures.
Innovative MC-Bauchemie MC-Bauchemie’s innovation, an integral waterproofing additive called MC-Special DM addresses the concern to make concrete water-impermeable, therefore more durable and sustainable. Although integral waterproofing additives have been a part of its construction chemical industry for a long time. Its innovation involved adding multiple safeguards to the product type to provide a much higher level of performance. MC-Special DM provides integral-waterproofing properties by combining three characteristics into one specially designed product.
Innovation to provide extra safeguardThe concept of this innovation came about with the need to provide concrete with that extra safeguard and durability to make the concrete itself impermeable. MC-Special DM has helped address this concern. By making its application simple, the company opens up doors for use of this innovation in a wide range of applications, where water ingress as a problem is critical. At the same time, there was the need to make this innovation local, sustainable and green.
Exclusive featuresMC-Special DM provides integral-waterproofing properties to concrete by combining three characteristics into one specially designed product. These innovative characteristics are:
Reduction of Capillary Pores: Special additives in MC-Special DM make the concrete more workable. This property helps concrete achieve excellent compactability, thereby reducing compaction and capillary pores. Reduced porosity means, less transport of water through the cement matrix, giving concrete a line of defence against water ingress.
MC’s Revolutionary DySC Technology: MC-Special DM uses advanced microfine hydraulic and pozzolanic Nanoparticles to effect a structure of densest packing in the cement matrix. The cement matrix is subsequently densified by a complex process called Dynamic SynCrystallization (DySC).
The strength and permeability of a cement-based material is based on hydration of the clinker components to form C-S-H gel and Ca(OH)2.Our specialnano-particles use this Ca(OH)2, in presence of water, to recrystallise and form new more stable C-S-H phases. One gram of this crystallising nano-pozzolan can react with more than 1,000 gm of Ca(OH)2 in concrete, which means its reactivity is much higher than most pozzolans. Therefore the most porous part of the cementitious matrix, (Ca(OH)2, is converted to stable C-S-H type crystals.
Over time, this process continues and the structure of the matrix becomes more refined, overall porosity decreases, micro-cracks are sealed and pore volume is minimised. This DySC process thus makes concrete watertight.Hydrophobic Pore Blocking: MC-Special DM has special additives, which converts the water-absorbing capillary forces into water repellent capillary forces due to the hydrophobic effect of the constituent. It is specially formulated and designed to prevent the passage of water through capillaries of the concrete, making it further impermeable.
Benefits of MC-Special DM• Ease of use• Better impermeability for the concrete itself• Ease of use in further incorporating waterproofing systems• Increased durability of RCC• Reduced maintenance and repair costs over lifecycle of the structure• Better green ratings for the structure• Ability to use the product for multiple applications, e.g. basements, bathrooms, foundations, slabs etc. • No changes in properties of fresh concrete, i.e. customers can easily mix and match this product into their existing mix designs.
Application areasApplication areas for MC-Special DM include concretes for all kinds of basements, top exposed slabs, floor slabs, plinth slabs, concrete for wet rooms, bathrooms, water-tanks, underground pipes, tunnels, precast elements, shotcrete, elevator pits, swimming pools or any other applications that demand impermeability of the concrete.
Mantra of durabilityToday construction demands the “mantra of durability”. The focus is very high on “doing things once and doing it right”. MC-Special DM is an effectively proven material to help achieve this.
In its space, MC-Special DM sets the bar higher in terms of performance. The company is thus in a process of converting normal to good concretes to “high performance waterproof concrete”. Now if concrete used generally becomes “high performance”, it will have a significant impact in saving India’s money. Structures will be more durable. Sustainability goes up due to use of local materials and minimal future repair.
The main marketing strategies include technical marketing, increasing awareness and the excellent performance of the product itself.