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The Prophet’s Mosque ... superplasticisers used.
BASF innovates to meet evolving needs
01 September 2015
BASF says its innovative MasterEase admixtures reduce plastic viscosity by 30 per cent, making concrete placement and finishing easier while reducing overall cost of projects.
BASF Construction Chemicals continues to innovate to provide sustainable building blocks for construction.
Its products are designed to ease the construction process, ensure the durability of structures, provide buildings the necessary protection against wear and tear and reduce the impact on the environment.
Among such recent innovations is the MasterEase range of admixtures for low-viscosity concrete.
Launched earlier this year, the product is part of BASF’s flagship brand Master Builders Solutions and is designed for superior rheology of high-performance concrete.
“With this range, plastic viscosity can be reduced by up to 30 per cent, which results in a substantial reduction of pumping pressure for concrete in construction sites,” says Mahmoud Al Jamal, admixture systems manager at BASF Saudi Arabia.
According to Al Jamal, this makes placing and finishing of concrete much easier and faster, which in turn make it a more economical option to standard concrete. “By saving time and costs in all construction projects, MasterEase improves the utilisation of transportation fleet and equipment while reducing wear of mixers, pumps and pipelines. The product is particularly suitable for concrete mixes with advanced engineering properties and sustainability,” he says.
The range was developed in response to the market’s significant uptake of leading Master Builders Solutions products such as MasterGlenium and Master X-Seed, Al Jamal adds.
The product is one of the many solutions and formulations that the global leader in sustainable chemical innovations has been developing for the region’s construction industry for over three decades.
Through Master Builders Solutions, BASF provides advanced products that include admixtures for concrete and fibres that enhance durability, strength and resistance to wear and tear.
BASF Construction Chemicals also offers a range of repair systems, performance grouts, expansion control systems, waterproofing and sealant solutions, and walls, tiling and flooring systems, as well as solutions for underground construction.
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Al Jamal ... BASF is helping build a sustainable future. |
“As architectural standards evolve in design, style, strength and technology, so must the nature of chemicals supplied to the construction industry. Naturally, they must be able to bear loads better, be tougher to environmental change and weather conditions and more resistant to natural disasters,” Al Jamal comments.
He continues: “Besides fulfilling aesthetic requirements, chemicals need to meet anti-corrosion requirements, combat water and carbon dioxide (CO2) damage or other aggressive influences, while maintaining structural integrity. With chemicals gaining favour as the building blocks to life, BASF has now established its leading status as a champion in extracting its benefits and adding to it with research and development findings.”
Al Jamal says housing and construction constitute 40 per cent of global energy use (due to materials used and debris), while buildings contribute to 25 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions (as a result of heating, cooling and use of electrical appliances).
“Along with global partners, BASF researches for solutions that can mitigate this negative environmental impact. Regionally, we produce more than 80 per cent of our products in-house, which are specifically adapted for local environmental conditions.”
He says the systems have been designed keeping in mind the company’s commitment to sustainable development. These solutions assist industry professionals in building and maintaining structures that perform to the highest standards while prolonging the lifespan of buildings.
“By providing training and easy access to product information, we streamline this process for customers to ensure our long-term goals are well under way to becoming a reality.
“In addition, we focus on improving our internal eco-footprint in manufacturing units and distribution centres as a means of fostering and championing the culture of sustainable awareness,” says Al Jamal.
For the last 150 years, BASF has been creating chemistry with a purpose – to build a sustainable future and enhance the quality of life as well as contribute to some of the world’s pressing needs. “This year, we celebrate our 150th anniversary that commemorates achievements and contributions made to every industry, customer and new technology,” he adds.
BASF offers a range of admixtures to improve strength, durability, workability, and water resistance, to name a few attributes. Its programme innovations combine these strengths to ensure performance-enhancing results in concrete.
In the GCC, BASF’s construction solutions have found widespread use in prestigious projects such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, as well as the New Doha Port in Qatar.
Its MasterGlenium Sky high-performance superplasticisers are currently being used to meet the construction requirements on a number of prestigious projects in Saudi Arabia including the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, and the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This admixture is formulated from the most advanced polycarboxylic ether polymer technology manufactured in-house by BASF.
The ongoing Riyadh Metro project is using BASF’s MasterRoc and MasterGlenium ACE technology.
