Sungshin Cement unit wins tech certification for concrete with extended workability

Sungshin Cement and its subsidiary Sungshin Remicon have achieved a significant technological milestone, earning certification from the Korea Concrete Institute for their innovative "Ultra-Workable Concrete." This advanced concrete mixture is engineered to maintain its fluidity and workability for an extended period of up to five hours.

The certified technology, officially titled 'Concrete for maintaining slump and slump flow for up to 5 hours of transportation and pouring using a composite admixture of polycarboxylate and gluconate,' utilizes a combination of high-performance polycarboxylate superplasticizers and gluconate retarders. This blend ensures the concrete remains workable for longer, a critical factor in modern construction where transportation delays and complex pouring schedules are common.

The Korea Concrete Institute's certification validates that the technology meets the institute's stringent standards. The certification is valid for five years, from August 25, 2026, to August 24, 2031. This development addresses the increasing challenge of maintaining concrete quality during transit, especially during hot summer months when fluidity can rapidly decrease.

Sungshin Cement and Sungshin Remicon developed this technology considering the practical demands of construction sites, ensuring that while initial workability is prolonged, the concrete still achieves normal setting and strength development after pouring. Performance tests confirmed its ability to maintain workability for up to five hours even in high-temperature conditions, with 28-day compressive strength meeting design standards across various strength ranges (24MPa to 50MPa), making it suitable for both architectural and civil engineering projects.

The company has already verified the technology's practical applicability through trials at its Guri plant and on large-scale construction sites in Seoul. These tests confirmed that the concrete retained its workability after significant transit times and exhibited normal strength development post-pouring. Sungshin anticipates that this ultra-workable concrete will be particularly beneficial for projects involving long-distance transportation, extended on-site waiting times, continuous pouring for large structures, and construction during high summer temperatures. The company also expects the technology to enhance on-site productivity and resource efficiency by reducing the need to discard or re-transport concrete due to workability issues.