TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CONCRETE

Sika’s set controlling admixtures allow producers and contractors to manage the consistency and set times of concrete during extreme temperatures and the most demanding situations. Whether you need to pump concrete for over a mile, or winter’s chill is doing its best to keep you from placing concrete, Sika can help deliver quality and consistency for ready mixed, precast, and shotcrete applications. 

Set Accelerators

Sika has a full range of chloride and non-chloride accelerators known as SikaSet that decrease the set time of concrete.

SikaSet® HE

Accelerating Admixture
Accelerated Set Times and Strength Development: SikaSet® HE may be used to accelerate set times and increase early strength gain where job-site efficiency is important in order to meet construction deadlines. SikaSet® HE saves time and money by allowing faster finishing and stripping of concrete formwork.
  • Insulation and heating costs during curing time are reduced.
  • Accelerated set times allow crews to finish concrete earlier, saving on labor costs.
  • Earlier stripping and reuse of forms increases labor productivity.
  • Accelerated strength gain allows earlier structural use and speeds completion time.
    Cold Weather Concreting: At the recommended dosage rate, SikaSet® HE will protect concrete from freezing in most sub-freezing temperature conditions and may reduce the need for cold weather concreting practices as specified in ACI 306 – Standard Specification for Cold Weather Concreting.

SikaSet® NC

Accelerating admixture
Accelerated Set Times and Strength Development: SikaSet® NC may be used to accelerate set times and increase early strength gain where job-site efficiency is important in order to meet construction deadlines. SikaSet® NC saves time and money by allowing faster finishing and stripping of concrete surfaces.
  • Accelerated setting time across a wide range of temperatures.
  • Increased early and ultimate compressive and flexural strengths.
  • Insulation and heating costs during curing time are reduced.
  • Accelerated set times allow crews to finish concrete earlier, saving on labor costs.
  • Earlier stripping and reuse of forms increases labor productivity.
  • Accelerated strength gain allows earlier structural use and speeds completion time.
  Cold Weather Concreting: In case of freezing conditions, cold weather concreting practices as specified in ACI 306 - Standard Specification for Cold Weather Concreting should be followed.   SikaSet® NC does not contain calcium chloride or any other intentionally added chlorides and will not initiate or promote the corrosion of steel members present in the concrete.  

SikaSet® NC-4

Accelerating Admixture
Accelerated Set Times and Strength Development: SikaSet® NC-4 may be used to accelerate set times and increase early strength gain where job-site efficiency is important in order to meet construction deadlines. SikaSet® NC-4 saves time and money by allowing faster finishing and stripping of concrete surfaces.  
  • Predictable accelerated setting time across a wide range of temperatures.
  • Increased early and ultimate compressive and flexural strengths.
  • Reduced insulation and heating costs during the curing period.
  • Accelerated set times allow crews to finish concrete earlier, saving on labor costs.
  • Increased productivity due to faster stripping and reuse of forms.
  • Accelerated strength gain allows earlier structural use and speeds completion time.
    Cold Weather Concreting: In case of freezing conditions, cold weather concreting practices as specified in ACI 306 - Standard Specification for Cold Weather Concreting should be followed.     SikaSet® NC-4 does not contain calcium chloride or any other intentionally added chlorides and will not initiate or promote the corrosion of steel members present in the concrete.

Sika® Plastocrete®-161 HE

ACCELERATING ADMIXTURE
Cold Weather Concreting: When Sika® Plastocrete®-161 HE is added to the mix, set times of cold weather concrete approach those of normal weather conditions.   In case of freezing conditions, cold weather concreting practices as specified in ACI 306 - Standard Specification for Cold Weather Concreting should be followed.    Accelerated Set Times and Strength Development: Sika® Plastocrete®-161 HE may be used to accelerate setting times where job-site efficiency is important in order to maintain construction deadlines.    Reduced setting and curing times offer significant economies in the following areas:
  • Insulation and heating costs during curing times are reduced.
  • Accelerated setting times allow crews to finish concrete earlier and save time and costs for finishing operations.
  • Earlier stripping and reuse of forms increase labor productivity and reduce job site labor costs.
  • Accelerated strength gain allows earlier structural use of concrete and speeds up project completion time.
Hardening Accelerators - Rapid

Strength / Hardening Accelerating Admixtures help to increase the early strength of concrete without affecting initial workability. This product type is especially useful in applications for repair, Department of Transportation, and precast concrete applications without the need for changes in cement. Sika® Rapid Series meets the requirements of ASTM C-494, Type C accelerating admixture.

Sika® Rapid-1

Strength/Hardening Accelerating Admixture
High Early Strength Concrete: Sika® Rapid-1 delivers excellent results in normal and
hot weather conditions where very high early strengths are required.  
  • Benefits
    • Early stripping and re-use of forms.
    • Faster finishing operations on flatwork surfaces.
    • Earlier post-tensioning.
    • Effective with Type I/II/III cements.   
    • Enhanced concrete sustainability through cement reduction and lower carbon footprint (eCO2).
  Precast Concrete: Sika® Rapid-1 delivers excellent results for precast concrete when high early strengths are required. Curing times are significantly reduced while concrete quality is improved.   
  • Benefits
    • Use as a replacement for steam curing to save energy costs.
    • Increase early strengths and allow faster rotation of molds to increase production per day.
    • Use as a replacement for Type III cement.
    • Enhanced concrete sustainability through cement reduction and lower carbon footprint (eCO2).
  Cold weather concreting: Sika® Rapid-1 is an effective hardening accelerator where high early strength concrete is desired and the use of calcium chloride is prohibited.   
  • Benefits
    • Insulation and heating costs for curing time can be reduced.
    • Earlier stripping and reuse of forms increases labor productivity.
    • Accelerated strength gain allows earlier structural use and speeds completion time.
    • Enhanced concrete sustainability through cement reduction and lower carbon footprint (eCO2).  
   Sika® Rapid-1 does not contain calcium chloride or any other intentionally added chlorides and will not initiate or promote the corrosion of reinforcing steel present in the concrete.   Placing concrete in freezing conditions: When used at Sika recommended dosage rates, Sika® Rapid-1 may reduce the need for cold weather concreting practices as specified in ACI 306-Standard Specification for Cold Weather Concreting. Field evaluations should be carried out when concrete is to be placed in freezing conditions to determine the minimum ambient and concrete temperatures required, and the optimum dosage for the desired setting time and strength performance. Sika strongly recommends that appropriate sound curing practices be used to protect fresh concrete from excessive heat loss in extreme weather conditions.
Retarders

Sika Plastiment series extends the setting time of concrete allowing time for proper placement and finishing without cold joints.

Sika® Plastiment®

WATER REDUCING AND RETARDING ADMIXTURE
Sika® Plastiment® is highly effective in hot weather concreting to offset the accelerating effects of high ambient temperatures by slowing the hydration reaction and controlling the hydration heat. Concrete workability is enhanced and a superior surface finish is obtained. In mass concrete pours Sika® Plastiment® controls temperature rise and reduces the risk of thermal cracking.    
  • Initial set times are delayed, allowing time for proper placement and finishing without cold joints in hot weather conditions.
  • Sika® Plastiment® increases concrete density and delivers increased early and ultimate, compressive and flexural strengths.
  • For flatwork applications Sika® Plastiment® acts as a finishing aid, workability is improved, bleeding is controlled and a superior surface finish is obtained.
  • Lower water cement ratios provide decreased permeability and increased durability.
  • Sika® Plastiment® can be used to retard concrete during the hot weather concreting.
    Refer to ACI 305R Hot Weather Concreting for more information. Sika® Plastiment® does not contain no calcium chloride or any other intentionally added chlorides.

Sika® Plastiment® XR

WATER REDUCING AND RETARDING ADMIXTURE
  • Reduces the rate of hydration of cement and controls concrete temperature.
  • Improves slump retention and retards set time of concrete.
  • Provides sufficient time for placement and finishing of concrete without cold joints in hot weather conditions.
  • In flatwork applications, Sika® Plastiment® XR acts as a finishing aid, improves workability, controls bleeding and provides a superior surface finish.
  • In mass concrete pours, Sika® Plastiment® XR controls temperature rise and reduces the risk of thermal cracking.
  • Improves compressive strength, flexural strength and durability by controlling the cement hydration reaction.
  • Improves homogeneity in the mix and reduces chances of segregation.
    Refer to ACI 305R Hot Weather Concreting for more information. Sika® Plastiment® XR is non-chloride based and does not contain any intentionally added chlorides.
Hydration Controlling Admixtures

Hydration controlling admixtures control the hydration rate of cement, rather than just delaying set time. In doing so, set times are significantly more predictable, dosing is more consistent, and concrete durability is unaffected. For applications ranging from underground tunneling and mining to managing the effects of long delivery times and heat, hydration controlling admixtures are a versatile solution to control concrete during its plastic state. SikaTard® Series of admixtures meets the requirements of ASTM C-494, Type B and Type D admixture.

Shotcrete Accelerator