Project Reference: MasterLife 300D - Crystalline Capillary Waterproofing Admixture Used in Shotcrete for Damp Areas
Location: Hard Rock Mines, South Australia
Market sector: Waterproofing & Infrastructure
Products used:
- MasterLife 300D a crystalline capillary waterproofing admixture
- MasterLife SF100 a silica fume mineral admixture formulated to produce hardened concrete
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The Background
Shotcrete is widely used in Hard Rock mines for ground support, allowing the customer a safe and efficient mining operation.
The Challenge
In damp and wet areas, shotcrete may be difficult to apply where fall out can occur due to the shotcrete not bonding to the wet substrate. Additionally, when shotcrete is applied over damp or wet areas water usually penetrates through the shotcrete and then onto the roads. The water damage on the roads can get very costly for the maintenance spent on the road as well as the damage caused to the equipment.
Our Solution
Master Builders Solutions proposed the addition of MasterLife300D, a crystalline capillary waterproofing admixture, to the
shotcrete mix in conjunction with MasterLife SF100, a dry
powdered silica fume.
MasterLife300D admixture is an integral crystalline capillary
waterproofing admixture for concrete. It is designed for use in
above- and below-grade applications and reduces concrete
permeability effectively allowing the shotcrete to breathe.
By supplementing MasterLife300D with MasterLife SF100, water
penetration, and capillary absorption, is reduced due to the
denser matrix structure and self-healing nature of hairline cracks.
Both products are conveniently supplied in water-soluble bags,
resulting in easy addition to shotcrete mixes whilst adding
synthetic fibers.
Project Facts at a Glance
▪ Addition of the MasterLife 300D by 2% of weight of cementitious material, and MasterLife SF100 dosed at 20kg per/m3
▪ Has been employed to combat weeping/ damp troublesome ground conditions with a mining customer in South Australia (100m3/week of shotcrete)
▪ Successfully used with another unnamed hard rock mine customer - 150m3 was applied to a geologically challenging area that was a critical infrastructure/ transport route
Product Facts at a Glance
The MasterLife product family are a range of admixtures that provide resistance to deterioration caused by abrasion, corrosion of steel, alkali silica reaction, sulfate attack, and drying shrinkage cracking. MasterLife 300D works by reducing water penetration whilst allowing the concrete to breathe. It uses a crystalline capillary waterproofing system which effectively seals capillaries and heals hairline cracks to 0.4 mm after the concrete has passed the plastic state. MasterLife SF100 is an admixture which improves the hardened characteristics of concrete in 2 key ways. Firstly, it is a pozzolan which means that it reacts chemically with concrete to increase the amount of calcium silicate hydrate gel formed, thus improving the strength and impermeability of the concrete. Secondly, MasterLife SF100 is an ultra-fine mineral that can physically fill voids between cement particles, therefore making the concrete dense and impermeable.
The Customer's Benefit
▪ A reduction in costs associated with road repairs
▪ Maintenance on equipment reduced
▪ Quality of shotcrete application improved in problematic damp areas
▪ Ease of addition of the products to the mix as the MasterLifeSF100 and MasterLife300D are water-soluble bags easily added when adding the fibers
▪ A more cost-effective solution compared to post-excavation grouting/ rehabilitation work