A new frontier in concrete acceleration

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Fig. 1: Early compressive strengths development at 10°C

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Fig. 2: Early compressive strengths development at 20°C

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Fig. 3: Temperature evolution of concrete cubes cured at 10°C

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Fig. 4: Temperature evolution of concrete cubes cured at 20°C

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F. 5: Temperature development measurements in concrete cubes

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Fig. 6: 28-day compressive strengths

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Gaetano Guarino
Marketing Manager at Master Builders Solutions, overseeing the precast and manufactured concrete products (MCP) markets in Europe. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and has over 14 years of experience in the construction chemicals sector.

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Sandro Moro
Concrete Technology and Materials Innovation Manager in the European Development Team of Master Builders Solutions Italy. He is working in the field of admixtures for concrete, collecting experiences in new technologies for cementitious-based materials. Part of various RILEM committees, he received his MS from the University of Venice in 1999.

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The precast concrete industry is undergoing a profound transformation due to the increasing use of clinker-reduced cements, particularly with regard to meeting short demolding times and ensuring reliable early strength development. This article demonstrates that advanced admixture technologies are well-suited to effectively address these challenges.

The ongoing transition toward low-clinker cements represents a major step forward in reducing the environmental impact of concrete production, particularly through the significant reduction of CO₂ emissions associated with traditional clinker manufacturing. However, this transition introduces important technical and operational challenges for the precast concrete industry, where rapid strength development, short demolding times, and high production efficiency are essential for maintaining competitiveness and reliability.

The incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (such as ground...