• Crystal Speed Hardening concept honoured

At the Ulmer BetonTage 2014 trade fair in Neu-Ulm, Germany, BASF was honoured for the concrete hardener Master X-Seed® 120 in the concrete technology category. “It is a great honour, as this award demonstrates that we have developed an innovative product enabling new business opportunities to our customers,” said Herwig Heegewaldt, responsible at BASF for the concrete additive business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Master X-Seed is a unique product that allows very finely dispersed synthetically produced Crystal Speed Hardening crystals to be added to the concrete in a ready-made suspension as crystal seeds. This process – known as “seeding” – speeds up the hardening process significantly, particularly during the early stage of cement hydration.

Adding Master X-seed means concrete hardens as rapidly at 20° C as concrete without hardener at 60° C. Conventional methods involve adding heat to accelerate the hardening process and thus ensure a high level of productivity.

“In developing the seeding technology, a close link between surface- and polymer chemistry, as well as mineralogy and structural engineering know-how were essential. Master X-Seed is an excellent example of how our interdisciplinary approach to research allows for new applications in the construction industry and creates added value for our customers,” said Dr. Michael Fischer, responsible at BASF for regional market management for concrete additives in Europe.

Especially the precast concrete industry can use Master X-Seed to optimize production processes, improve concrete quality and energy efficiency, and reduce CO 2 emissions by eliminating the need for heat curing. Master X-Seed offers new possibilities in ready-mix concrete as well. Pouring concrete in winter at low outside temperatures is for example easier and concrete floors can be put in more quickly thanks to reduced waiting times.

In contrast to conventional acceleration methods, Master X-Seed does not interfere adversely with the final hardness and service life of the concrete. Master X-Seed is approved for use in concrete in accordance with DIN 1045-2. “As part of our extensive solutions portfolio bundled under the Master Builders Solutions® brand, Master X-Seed is setting new standards in the concrete industry. Process optimization with lower energy input and consistent product quality is helping our customers along the path to more sustainability in construction,” Fischer explains.

The innovation prize from the concrete component supplier industry is awarded annually by FBF Betondienst, host of the Ulmer BetonTage, and the “BFT International Betonwerk + Fertigteil-Technik” professional journal. Awards are given for innovation in areas such as concrete technology. Assessment criteria include the level of innovation and the originality of the nominees, relevance for the precast concrete component industry, market and application potential, and compliance with technological standards.

Master Builders Solutions from BASF
Under the Master Builders Solutions® brand, BASF bundles its advanced chemical solutions for new construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of
structures. Master Builders Solutions is built on the experience gained from more
than 100 years in the construction industry. The comprehensive portfolio under
the brand encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical
solutions for underground construction, waterproofing solutions, sealants, repair
& protection solutions, performance grouts, and performance flooring solutions.
Master Builders Solutions is backed by a global community of BASF construction
experts. To solve our customers’ specific construction challenges, we combine
the suitable elements of our portfolio, our know-how across areas of expertise
and regions, and draw on the experience gained in countless construction projects worldwide.

We leverage global BASF technologies as well as our in-depth knowledge of local building needs, to develop innovations that help make our customers more successful and drive sustainable construction.