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.

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.

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.