Improving quality and efficiency with hardening accelerators

Photo: Schweizerische Südostbahn AG

A new track bed is being cast

Photo: Schweizerische Südostbahn AG

The finished track bed sealed with polymer bitumen

Photo: Schweizerische Südostbahn AG

The Herisau-Lichtensteig railway route was put out of service for five weeks to repair and refurbish the two Glattal and Weissenbach natural stone viaducts

Photo: Schweizerische Südostbahn AG

Photo: BASF

Comparison between the influence of heat curing and the use of X-Seed 120

Photo: BASF

Only little space and a few molds were available for precast element production; nor was there any option to heat the production line

Photo: BASF

Finished duct covers at the protected outdoor storage facility

Photo: BASF

Example 4: The first step included the assembly of the external formwork and the pouring of the concrete for the foundation

Photo: BASF

Finished settling tanks

Photo: BASF

Part I of this article was entitled “C-S-H: A state-of-the-art concept to accelerate concrete hardening” (see BFT International 01/2013, p. 44) and described the working principle of the seeding technology. Part II refers to laboratory-scale and real-life examples to outline the application of this new type of concrete additive technology.

An efficiently accelerated concrete hardening process can be beneficial in many respects, for example to optimize production processes, to make certain areas in production more efficient, or to increase the production output in a flexible manner to respond to peak demand, which would otherwise be possible only if additional investments were made. Precast producers are often confronted with the necessity of working many additional hours to finish the concrete surface. The seeding technology makes it easy and convenient to manage this work.