VF200 – Polycarboxylate Slump-Retaining Flake Concrete Admixture

Polycarboxylate Slump Retaining Flake is a new generation of eco-friendly solid admixture specifically developed by Luke Chemicals to maintain the stability of concrete states over long periods.

Technical Principle

The core technology of this product lies in its unique dual mechanism of “steric hindrance and time-controlled slow-release,” achieving precise functional release through the special structure of the flakes.

Special slow-release functional groups are grafted onto the main molecular chain of the slump-retaining agent. In the alkaline environment of concrete, these groups do not immediately ionize and adsorb like standard superplasticizer molecules.

Instead, they slowly hydrolyze over time during the cement hydration process, continuously releasing side chains with dispersing effects. This provides a constant supplement of superplasticizer molecules to replace those invalidated by hydration consumption, thereby maintaining the dispersion effect on cement particles.

Characteristics / Advantages

• High Solid Content: This flake-form polycarboxylate slump-retaining agent has a solid content of 97% and is completely soluble in water.

• Flexible Preparation: For use in ready-mix or precast concrete, it should be added to water before use (best when used in combination with PCE water-reducing flakes) to obtain a solution with a solid content of 10% or 20%.

• Excellent Compatibility: It demonstrates outstanding compatibility with various standard or early-strength polycarboxylate superplasticizers (liquid or powder), allowing for simple blending and stable performance overlap.

• Specialized Function: It does not alter the basic properties of the primary water-reducing agent and serves specifically to provide slump retention.

• Performance Stability: While providing effective slump retention, it does not significantly affect the setting time or early strength development of the concrete.

• Quality Enhancement: It helps improve concrete homogeneity, reduces bleeding and segregation, makes the concrete structure denser, enhances appearance, and improves long-term durability.

Product Information

Uses

• Ready-mix concrete for long-distance and long-duration transportation: Such as commercial concrete mixing stations supplying remote construction sites.

• Concrete constructed in high-temperature environments: Summer construction and projects in tropical regions.

• Special construction processes with high slump-retention requirements: Self-compacting concrete, high-fill non-vibrated concrete, ultra-long distance pumped concrete, etc.

• Precision components with extremely high requirements for workability stability: Precast components, pipe piles, sleepers, etc., requiring highly stable slump to ensure uniform product quality.

Application Information

• It is recommended to be used in combination with polycarboxylate water-reducing flakes, with a dosage of 0.1% to 0.5% of the weight of the cementitious material. The optimal dosage should be determined through mix design trials.

• Trials must be conducted before use.

• This product is prohibited from being mixed with naphthalene sulfonates.

Legal Notes

The information provided in this document is given in good faith based on our current knowledge and experience of the product when properly stored, handled, and applied under normal conditions. In practice, the differences in materials, substrates, and actual site conditions are such that no warranty in respect of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose, nor any liability arising out of any legal relationship whatsoever, can be inferred either from this information, or from any written recommendations, or from any other advice offered. The user of the product must test the product’s suitability for the intended application and purpose. We reserve the right to change the properties of our products. All orders are accepted subject to our current terms of sale and delivery. Users must always refer to the most recent issue of the local Product Data Sheet for the product concerned, copies of which will be supplied on request.