BASF launches groundbreaking concrete admixture range MasterEase®
New technology reduces viscosity in concrete by up to 30 percent
Low viscosity and concrete mix stability facilitate mixing, pumping, placing and finishing of high performance concrete
Sydney, Australia – November 10, 2015 – BASF has launched a new range of admixtures under the Master Builders Solutions brand that brings significant improvement to the rheological properties of concrete.
The MasterEase® admixture range is based on a novel and patent protected polymer technology, which helps to reduce plastic viscosity in concrete by up to 30 percent.
This reduction in viscosity levels substantially reduces the pumping pressure required, making placing and finishing concrete easier, faster and more economical. “Innovation is what drives our business. With our new products we want to meet our customers’ needs, master construction challenges and contribute to their success. This is the driver behind MasterEase,” said Angus Peruzzo, Head of Construction, Australia and New Zealand, BASF.
“Ease stands for ease of mixing, pumping, placing, leveling and finishing of concrete. After pioneering concrete technology with market leading products like MasterGlenium® and Master X-Seed®, we are proud to present another groundbreaking innovation from Master Builders Solutions to the concrete industry,” said John Brooks, Marketing Manager, Admixture Systems, BASF Australia and New Zealand.
Flexible and adaptable with improved workability retention
Both concrete producers and users benefit in many ways from the new technology: MasterEase products are flexible and can be adapted to challenging situations such as temperature variations. “The high level of rheology and long workability are added value for the contractors in terms of concrete durability,” explained John Brooks. “The concrete is easy to place, trowel and pump. Utilizing this concrete saves time and cost in every single construction project. It improves the utilization of the transportation fleet and equipment and reduces the wear of mixers, pumps and pipelines.”
In addition, the possibility to reduce mixing water even further without impacting the concrete rheology, opens new possibilities for improvement in concrete mix designs: Less water in concrete mixes means higher performance and better durability.
The new technology is particularly suitable for concrete mixes which are optimized for advanced engineering properties and sustainability. High-strength concrete with low water/cement ratios, as well as mixes with higher levels of secondary cementitious materials, reduce the CO2 footprint and are easier to produce and place. This helps engineers and investors to improve sustainability ratings of their projects.
About BASF’s Construction Chemicals division
BASF’s Construction Chemicals division offers advanced chemicals solutions for new construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of structures: Our comprehensive portfolio encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical solutions for underground construction, waterproofing systems, sealants, concrete repair & protection systems, performance grouts, performance flooring systems, tile fixing systems, expansion control systems and wood protection solutions.
The Construction Chemicals division’s about 5,400 employees form a global community of construction experts. To solve our customers’ specific construction challenges from conception through to completion of a project, we combine our know-how across areas of expertise and regions and draw on the experience gained in countless construction projects worldwide. We leverage global BASF technologies, as well as our in-depth knowledge of local building needs, to develop innovations that help make our customers more successful and drive sustainable construction.
The division operates production sites and sales centers in more than 50 countries and achieved sales of about €2.1 billion in 2014.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
For additional information, please contact:
Angela Beggs
Corporate Affairs
Australia and New Zealand
Phone: +61 3 8855 6273
angela.beggs@basf.com