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SIKA SERVICES AG
Tffenwies 16 CH-8048 Zrich Switzerland
Phone: +41 58 436 40 40 Fax: +41 58 436 41 50 www.sika.com
New developments in grinding aids and quality Additional benefits
improvers offer solutions for individual challenges, While the strength development usually stays within the
providing additional opportunities to optimise cement designed limits, other side effects of the constantly increasing
production and improve business competitiveness. use of clinker replacements are often out of the main
focus. These can range from increased water demand and
Grinding aids and quality improvers the connected low concrete workability to bleeding of the
State-of-the-art cement production uses cement additives produced concrete. Since the amount of water in concrete and
to achieve the desired production values, as well as the its in-homogeneities affects its appearance, highly consistent
designed strength parameters. cement quality is demanded, especially for the increasingly
Chemical process aids for the grinding process with used fair faced concrete in architectural applications.
ball mills and vertical mills (so-called grinding aids) Based on a tailor-made approach, additional benefits
are used to assist the comminution and reduce the can be achieved with the use of the polycarboxylate polymer
specific energy consumption per tonne of cement. The powered grinding aid technology:
latest developments in grinding aid technology achieve l Adjustable powder flowability (cement handling).
the highest grinding and separating efficiency, using
l Reduced carbon bleeding (concrete homogeneity).
combinations of commonly used raw materials like amino-
acetates or glycols with special polycarboxylate polymers1. l Improved consistency (concrete workability).
Strength enhancing cement additives quality
improvers have become increasingly common since Adjusted cement flowability
the 1980s. In this product group, different chloride-free The comminution of clinker during the cement grinding
and chloride-containing technologies mainly target a process results in unsatisfied charges on the newly created
higher early strength, which increases the use of clinker surfaces, which cause an electrostatic attraction of the cement
replacements like slag, pozzolans and limestone. particles. With increasing fineness, more surface charges
are generated, which increasingly reduce cement powder
flowability. These inter-particle forces can adversely affect
the flow characteristics in airslides and result in a no-flow
condition during discharge of silos and transportation vessels.
Investigations into how to reduce this frequently
100 93 encountered problem with2 and without3 aeration equipment
Competitor SikaGrind-800 Series
90 have been discussed in literature. Grinding aids reduce the
81 80
80 inter-particle adhesion and hence have a positive influence
Passing of the sieve [%]
Figure 2. Polycarboxylate polymer powered grinding aid allows powder to be adjusted to the desired flowability and enables easy handling
(right).
Conclusion
Today, cement additives are used for more than Figure 5. PCE powered GA allows plant trials to modify concrete workability.
only reduced specific energy consumption and
improved strength development.
Based on a tailor-made approach, 2. WITHERIDGE, A. J.., PMT Advances Airslides, WORLD CEMENT,
additional benefits like adjustable powder flowability, May 2009, pp. 93 99.
reduced carbon bleeding and improved consistency can be 3. ABD-EL-RAHMAN, Aref. M. E., and EL SAYED YOUSSEF, M..,
achieved. These additional benefits can become the decisive A Device for Enhancement and Controlling of the Cohesive
Powder Discharging without Aeration, Journal of Applied Sciences
factor to ensure the application of specific cement types.
Research, 2008, 4 (2), pp. 133 137.
Products from the SikaGrind range offer a solution for
4. DIN EN 459-2: Building lime - Part 2: Test methods, February 2002.
individual challenges, providing additional opportunities to
5. IMSE, W. Measuring the flowability of cement, Zement-Kalk-Gips,
optimise cement production and improve your business. 1972, 44 (3), pp. 147 149.
6. ELLERBROCK, H.-G., SPRUNG, S., and KUHLMANN, K., Influence of
References interground additives on the properties of cement, Zement-Kalk-
1. JOST, P., and SCHRABBACK, J. M., Creative Grinding Solutions, Gips, October 1985, pp. 586 588.
International Cement Review, September 2007, pp. 70 72.
WHO WE ARE
Sika AG, Switzerland, is a globally active specialty chemicals company.
Sika supplies the building and construction industry as well as manu-
facturing industries (automotive, bus, truck, rail, solar and wind power
plants, faades). Sika is a leader in processing materials used in sealing,
bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting loadbearing structures.
Sikas product lines feature highquality concrete admixtures, specialty
mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials,
structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring as well as roofing
and waterproofing systems.
Sika Services AG / Concrete / Cement Additives / CMDL / 09.2014