Tips, insights, and news from the concrete technology market

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is increasingly used in modern construction and the production of precast reinforced concrete elements. Its high flowability, ability to completely fill formwork without vibration, and excellent consolidation even in heavily reinforced structures make SCC an efficient solution for demanding construction projects.

In accordance with EN 206, self-compacting concrete is classified into slump-flow classes SF1, SF2, and SF3, allowing the appropriate consistency to be selected depending on the concreting method and structural requirements.

Producing stable and reliable SCC is impossible without a properly selected concrete admixture. A high-performance admixture provides the required flowability, resistance to segregation, effective water reduction, and retention of workability during transportation and placement.

For the production of self-compacting concrete, MISTIM offers a range of advanced superplasticizing admixtures developed for various concreting conditions.

KOMPLEKS K-17 is a universal solution for producing SCC in SF1–SF3 classes. The admixture provides excellent flowability, high water reduction, outstanding pumpability, and stable workability throughout transportation and placement.

KOMPLEKS K-18 is recommended for use during hot weather and elevated ambient temperatures. It combines a highly efficient superplasticizing effect with controlled setting retardation, allowing the concrete mix to maintain the required workability for extended periods, even during long-distance transportation.

KOMPLEKS K-12 combines superplasticizing performance with an additional hydrophobic effect. This makes it possible not only to produce highly flowable concrete mixtures but also to improve the watertightness and durability of hardened concrete, which is particularly important for structures exposed to moisture.

KOMPLEKS K-15 is a next-generation high-performance superplasticizer designed for high-strength and self-compacting concrete. Its significant water-reducing capability, even at low dosage rates, promotes the formation of a dense concrete structure, resulting in increased strength and long-term durability.

Our technical specialists will help you select the optimal admixture based on the cement type, concrete mix composition, and performance requirements of the finished concrete, ensuring consistent and reliable results under production conditions.

During the summer season, concrete producers often face the challenge of slump loss during transportation. High temperatures, traffic congestion, and long distances to the job site can cause concrete to begin setting before placement even starts.

To address these conditions, our company offers KOMPLEX K-11 — a plasticizing admixture with a retarding effect designed to maintain the workability and technological properties of concrete mixtures for extended periods at ambient temperatures of up to 40°C.

KOMPLEX K-11 improves the plasticity and workability of concrete, promotes proper compaction, and helps preserve the designed strength characteristics of concrete structures. Its retarding action prevents premature setting during transportation and concrete placement in hot weather conditions.

KOMPLEX K-11 is particularly effective for ready-mix concrete producers supplying remote construction sites or working in regions with high summer temperatures. The admixture helps maintain the initial slump of concrete mixtures for up to 4 hours without segregation, bleeding, or loss of workability.

Benefits of KOMPLEX K-11

✔ Maintains concrete workability for up to 4 hours

✔ Effective at temperatures above +20°C

✔ Prevents segregation and bleeding

✔ Improves plasticity and workability

✔ Enhances concrete compaction

✔ Preserves designed strength performance

✔ Reliable performance during long-distance transportation

KOMPLEX K-11 provides confidence that your concrete will retain its properties from batching at the plant to final placement on the construction site.

Admixtures of the COMPLEX system, based on many years of research and proven practical experience, help maintain full control over concrete mixes and construction mortars even in severe frost. They ensure stable workability of the mix, protection during transportation, accelerated strength development, and reduced risk of cracking. The admixtures are easy to integrate into any mix design and allow work to be carried out on site or in production without additional complications. This is a practical solution for the cold season, enabling confident planning of work without weather-related interruptions. The use of COMPLEX system admixtures makes concrete and mortars more durable and reliable.

COMPLEX K-5 is an optimal solution for concrete mixes at temperatures down to –10 °C. It maintains  mix workability and ensures rapid early strength development.

COMPLEX K-8 is designed for even harsher winter conditions — down to –15 °C. This admixture incorporates all the advantages of COMPLEX K-5 and works even more efficiently: it protects concrete from freezing, allows extended transportation time of the mix, and accelerates demoulding of finished products, making concreting reliable even in severe frost.

COMPLEX K-10 is specifically developed for mortars and mixes used at temperatures down to –12 °C. It provides stable plasticity, prevents segregation, and supports uniform hardening even in freezing conditions.

Thanks to COMPLEX system admixtures, cold weather does not hinder construction — concrete and mortars perform as required throughout the entire cold season.

In today’s conditions, civil protection has become a top priority. The construction of reliable shelters, radiation-protection facilities, and bomb shelters requires not only proper design but also the use of high-quality concrete capable of withstanding extreme conditions. That is why concrete admixtures are becoming a key element in the construction technology of such structures.

According to DBN V.2.2-5:2023 “Protective Structures of Civil Defense”, concrete for protective structures must meet the following requirements:

• Strength class – not lower than C20/25;
• Frost resistance – at least F150;
• Water impermeability – minimum W6-8;
• For areas with potential flooding — a monolithic structure with a solid foundation slab.

COMPLEX admixtures ensure effective achievement of the required concrete characteristics, combining components that optimize all key aspects of concreting protective structures, namely:

• COMPLEX K-17, K-18 – reduce the water-cement ratio, increase strength and density of concrete, and improve mix workability even in challenging conditions (dense reinforcement, complex geometry). In combination with COMPLEX K-1, they help achieve water impermeability up to W12.
• COMPLEX K-12 – increases frost resistance to F300.
• COMPLEX K-11 – adapts concrete to ambient temperatures, which is critically important for monolithic works in hot climates up to +45 °C.
• COMPLEX K-1 – protects concrete from moisture penetration, reduces capillary water absorption, and increases the durability of structures, which is especially important for construction in areas prone to flooding or with a high groundwater level.

We provide technical support and adjust concrete compositions for specific conditions, accompanying the implementation of the project from start to completion.
Technological Service

Need to improve the workability and quality of your concrete mix without losing strength or adding excess water? Then COMPLEX-17 is exactly what you need!

A polymer-based superplasticizer that increases concrete mix workability from S1 to S5 without reducing grade strength, while also boosting early strength performance – up to 30% at 1 day.

The admixture has a wide temperature range of use (-3 °C to +30 °C):

• Protects your concrete in cold weather.
• Extends placing time during hot summer days.

Interested or want to learn more?
Our technical support service is at your disposal: +380504350441

COMPLEX-13 is used in the production technology of all types of vibropressed products and prevents wear of vibropress equipment, thereby extending its service life. These advantages allow you to achieve maximum economic efficiency in the production of vibropressed concrete.

The use of COMPLEX K-13 provides a number of key benefits:

• Reduced admixture consumption (0.2…0.3% of binder mass) compared to similar products on the market.
• High density (ρ = 2440 kg/m³ and above) and strength of the product (≥13% higher than comparable admixtures for vibropressed products), which ensures increased frost resistance and efflorescence resistance.
• Reduced friction coefficient between mold elements and the filling mixture, improving ease of placement into press molds, enhancing surface quality of products, and reducing production time of finished goods.

Plasticizer with workability-retention effect: extends the slump life of concrete mixes, depending on the cement type and manufacturer, up to 2 hours at ambient temperature up to +25 °C, while maintaining the designed strength parameters of concrete.

• Increases workability of the concrete mix from P1 to P5 without reducing design strength.
• Ensures up to 50% of concrete strength at 3 days, and up to +5% strength gain at 28 days, as defined by DSTU B.V.2.7-171:2008 (EN 934-2:2001, NEQ).
• Reduces effective cement consumption in 1 m³ of concrete mix by up to 13% compared to mixes without admixture (depending on cement grade, manufacturer, and aggregate quality).
• Enables concreting at ambient temperatures from +25 °C down to -5 °C, and down to -7 °C with preheated aggregates, with mandatory subsequent curing after placement.
• Increases concrete durability indicators: water impermeability up to W8 and frost resistance up to F250 when used in combination with COMPLEX K-1.

To extend the slump life of ready-mix concrete during long transportation and to ensure cost-effective production of all types of ready-mix concrete, we offer the COMPLEX K-11 admixture.

With COMPLEX K-11, you get:

• Extended slump retention P3…P5 up to 5 hours.
• High early-age and 28-day strength.
• Reduced cement consumption and lower production costs.

The admixture is dosed together with mixing water.

Dosage of COMPLEX K-11 per 100 kg of cement:

• 0.7…0.9 kg – at ambient temperatures +15…+30 °C.
• 0.9…1.5 kg – at ambient temperatures up to +45 °C.

This simplifies work with ready-mix concrete and improves curing processes.
Dosage may vary depending on the quality of available materials at the production site.