ICRETE by Amazecrete: Designed to Enhance the Properties of Concrete
What makes ICRETE unique?
ICRETE is a patented product, an amazing invention of over 20 years of continuous work by Dr Ramkumar. Unlike many other products in the market, it is an original concept and superior to all similar products in terms of its value addition to concrete.
ICRETE works better with more SCM loading; in other words, higher SCM content mixes perform better with ICRETE. This unique design makes it a great choice for making sustainable and eco-friendly concrete mixtures. In fact, ICRETE has triggered a paradigm shift in concrete production.
SEM images of hardened concrete with ICRETE when studied, show crystal growth, which indicates the capillary pore reduction due to such reactions in the concrete matrix. This has led to very good impermeability. Many other studies at different labs have confirmed this permeability reduction and overall improvement in the quality of concrete.
Recent studies have also shown that ICRETE is working as a corrosion inhibitor, which adds to its list of benefits that ICRETE imparts to concrete. Remarkably, ICRETE does not affect the fresh properties of concrete, nor does it affect the setting time of concrete, which makes ICRETE the first choice of many readymix concrete companies.
Application of ICRETE
ICRETE is generally added during mixing of concrete in batching plants. The dosage is usually 0.7% to 1.5% for low to medium grades of concrete. In case of higher grades of M50 and above, ICRETE has been used at 2 to 2.5% by weight of the cementitious content, and has given satisfactory performance both in fresh and hardened state of concrete.
It is noteworthy that with low dosages of ICRETE the economical benefits are quite big for concrete producers/users, while also meeting the technical requirements of customers. A recent example is of a customer for M60 wherein a 450 kg OPC+ 160 kg flyash with a 75 kg of finely ground SCM was replaced by just 15 kg of ICRETE, meeting all technical requirements of the customer, including high early strength. Many customers have reported using ICRETE as a standalone Waterproofing Compound. In fact, ICRETE complies to IS2645 as an integral waterproofing compound.
ICRETE has been used in all kinds of concrete including SCC, SDC, Precast concrete , where it has added value to the concrete. ICRETE works well with OPC, PPC, OPC+GGBS, OPC+PFA, and even triple blends. Concrete block/paver manufacturers have also benefited by using ICRETE.
Benefits
- ICRETE enhances the strength of concrete, hence, can be used to reduce cement/cementitious content, making optimized mixes. This leads to cost savings, a direct tangible benefit to concrete producer/user.
- The action of ICRETE on cementitious system is to produce compounds which fill up capillary pores and make a better, more dense microstructure, leading to improved water resistance. Thus ICRETE acts as an impermeability enhancer, which leads to improved durability.
- ICRETE reduces shrinkage, as a result of which cracks caused due to shrinkage are almost reduced or eliminated. This has prompted companies to use ICRETE as a shrinkage reducing admixture.
Most important contribution of ICRETE to Concrete
We are in a state of emergency to reduce CO2 emissions. The impact of many human activities including Cement Manufacturing has is negatively impacting the environment. Therefore, any reduction in cement /cementitious content is a positive contribution towards reducing CO2 emissions.
Optimization methods using ICRETE to reduce OPC, increase use of Flyash or GGBS in concrete mixtures is a big leap in making concrete more sustainable. In our opinion, this is a very significant contribution of ICRETE, without undermining any tangible benefits, economical or otherwise. In the near future, when specifications become stricter for performance-based sustainable concrete, ICRETE will be a great tool to achieve many technical parameters satisfactorily.
The cement /cementitious reduced ICRETE mixes with slightly higher WC ratios can match the performance of lower WC, higher cement/cementitious non-ICRETE mixes. This again underscores the benefits of the product.
Improving Concrete with Amazecure
We have recently introduced an internal curing additive called AMAZECURE. It is a blend of minerals and additives that helps in retaining water in concrete system for an extended period of time, thereby allowing internal curing to occur, without the necessity of external water curing and use of curing compounds.
Apart from retaining water, it also blocks the pores of the concrete with its reaction with cement, thereby not allowing the strength to decrease. AMAZECURE contains carefully processed specialty additives and micro minerals that work by holding the excess water in the system, apart from the water required for hydration, without affecting the reactions.
When used as an Internal Curing Compound, AMAZECURE helps in the following:
- Saves curing water (external water curing is completely eliminated)
- Saves precious potable water for better use
- No transportation of water required to various parts of the building or structure
- Reduction in the number of laborers normally deployed for curing
- No supervision required for curing.
The above leads to:
- Conservation of water
- Sustainable concrete with minimum use of natural resource (water)
- Assured concrete quality/strength
For further details, please contact:
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