New Master Builders Solutions admixtures for
low-clinker cements enable CO2 savings of up to 35%
The global trend towards sustainable construction is becoming increasingly important and at the same time creates the biggest challenges for the construction industry in relation to CO2 reduction. Low-clinker cements offer the most significant potential to reduce the CO2 footprint of concrete. With the recent release of the new European Standard EN 197-5, which introduces the new cement types CEM II/C-M and CEM VI, the construction industry is experiencing significant pressure to adapt its processes to this new framework: These new cements contain less clinker, higher amounts of limestone and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) which affect the concrete performance, particularly in relation to workability retention and strength development. With MasterEase and Master X-Seed, Master Builders Solutions® confirms its leading position as an innovation driver within the industry and continues to provide highly-effective solutions to customers, helping them to achieve their challenging sustainability targets. Master Builders Solutions enables the utilization of new low clinker cements while at the same time safeguarding concrete performance.
New low-clinker cement types lead to changes in the market
Cement and concrete manufacturers are extensively working on ways to minimize the clinker content in CO2 -optimized concrete mixes. The immediate benefit of using low-clinker cements for concrete production is the reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 35% compared to a traditional CEM I cement and by up to 25% when using a CEM II/C-M cement over CEM II/A cement. The reduced clinker content and increased amount of limestone filler and SCMs of these new cements typically bring about new challenges for concrete producers. These can include raw material variations across surface specifics as well as chemical and mineralogical composition, with consequences on the water absorbtion potential and interaction with admixtures.
Master Builders Solutions has already developed powerful solutions for these new raw material challenges, however. MasterEase offers superior rheology, that can be maintained also across long transportation times and in hot climate conditions. The Master X-Seed product range allows for higher concrete strengths, both at early ages as well as long term. “Providing sustainable solutions is a key factor of our Master Builders Solutions portfolio and overall strategy. Strong partnerships are essential and support and accelerate the development of significant innovations. We work with major players to continuously develop efficient admixtures to add value to our customers and achieve a long-term sustainable positive effect on the construction industry,” says Dr. Christian Geierhaas, President Europe at MBCC Group. “In addition to the usual performance criteria, such as fluidity and compressive strength, our new solutions for our ready-mix customers are characterized by their outstanding robustness. Our admixtures provide an important differentiator by guaranteeing consistently high quality concrete, even upon variation of the cement type and fluctuation of the raw materials used to produce these new, more sustainable cements,” adds Dr. Christian Geierhaas. Master Builders Solutions supports both cement manufacturers and concrete producers with expert knowledge along the value chain, ensuring that its chemical products and solutions help achieve the highest quality standards for concrete despite reduced cement content.
