Important parameters for coloring concrete

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

DIN EN 12878 specifies the requirements for concrete colors

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

The cement color is one of the most important factors to be taken into account when pigmenting concrete

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

The lighter the color of the pigment, the more important is the inherent color of the cement or concrete

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

The w/c ratio influences the lightness of the concrete. This needs to be taken into account when using concrete plasticizers

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

Metering of the pigment is always based on the amount of cement used

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

Figure: round-about-you

Strong influence of the release agent: six different concrete samples are shown in the picture. They were all manufactured using the same concrete and the same formwork – the only difference being the release agent

Figure: round-about-you

Once the point of color saturation has been reached, there is little use in adding further pigments, as this will result in only minor changes in the concrete color

Figure: round-about-you

Coloring concrete has long since ceased to belong into the “new concrete technology” category. Some important parameters should be taken into account in the process, such as the color of the pigment and the proportion of gray in the cement. There are other factors, however, that only become apparent at second glance.

Concrete is a construction material that offers an exceptionally wide variety of different design options. Not only can it be molded into almost any given shape, but its surface texture and color can also be modified. Fluctuations in both mix design and production factors need to be minimized, however, in order to ensure that a structure will have a consistent color shade.