Powercrete Plus Datasheet - Lafarge in South Africa

CEMENT
Premium Technical Cement
DATA SHEET
Powercrete Plus
Premium Technical Cement for
specialist applications
Innovative formulation from Lafarge Cement’s unequalled
technical resources has produced a cement that is the effective
solution to the productivity demands of large construction
projects. Powercrete Plus has the characteristics of:
• excellent strength performance at all ages
• good early strength
• superior workability
• versatility
• enhanced durability
Composition
Powercrete Plus is produced at our Lichtenburg Cement
Works in the North West Province, Randfontein Grinding
Station on the west side of Johannesburg and at our Richards
Bay grinding plant in KwaZulu-Natal. While having similar
essential characteristics, the product formulations differ
between the sites, to optimise the use of the available raw
materials:
Powercrete Plus produced by our Lichtenburg Cement Works
incorporates finely ground, high purity, limestone, which is
interground with Portland cement clinker, 15% quality siliceous
fly ash from Ash Resources and a strength enhancer. The
product conforms to the SANS 50197 (EN 197) specification in
accordance with SANS 50196 (EN 196) test requirements and
is a CEM II/A-M (V-L) 42,5N Portland-composite cement.
The formulation for Powercrete Plus produced at Randfontein
and our Richards Bay plant is based on Portland cement clinker
and 15% of quality siliceous fly ash, together with a strength
enhancer to achieve a CEM II/A-V 42,5N Portland-fly ash cement.

LAFARGE
Special Characteristics
While innovative formulation has given Powercrete Plus the
special benefits of a fly ash extended cement - in particular
good workability - the product can be extended further with
DuraPozz ® fly ash, Slag (GGBS) and Silica Fume, to produce
customised site blends. This feature enables the production of
a wide range of specific, cost-effective mix formulations which
provide solutions to requirements for strength, durability and
workability.
Scope for extension:
Our two Powercrete Plus formulations each contain 15% quality
siliceous fly ash and trials have demonstrated the potential
for further replacement with an additional 15% up to 30%
DuraPozz ® or 30% up to 50% Slag (GGBS).
Water addition:
The inclusion of quality siliceous fly ash in the formulations
results in a reduced water requirement for concrete mixes.
Tight control of water addition will realise the benefits of extra
strength, reduced bleeding and shrinkage cracking.
Typically, the water demand of a concrete mix made with
Powercrete Plus is reduced by between 2% and 5% compared
with a CEM I class cement. The reduction depends on a number
of factors in addition to the amount of fly ash in the cement.
Strength Development
Powercrete Plus is formulated to
meet the high, good early strength
requirements of specialist technical
applications. This is of particular benefit
in applications such as post-tensioning
of prestressed beams.
Special Characteristics
Compressive Strength (MPa)
Powercrete Plus
Reliable Quality
The strength development and
performance of Powercrete Plus is
continually monitored for compliance
with Lafarge’s stringent in-house
standards (referred to as “Usage Quality
Testing”).
Properties
Powercrete Plus complies with the chemical and physical requirements of SANS
50197 (EN197) for a Class II 42,5N cement.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Property Powercrete Plus* EN Spec. requirement
2 day Compressive strength 22,5 MPa ≥ 10,0 MPa
28 day Compressive strength 56,5 MPa ≥ 42,5 MPa ≤ 62,5 MPa
Initial set 200 minutes ≥ 60 minutes
Soundness 1,0 mm ≤ 10 mm
Relative Density 3,04 n/a
*Typical results
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
SO 3 2,10% ≤ 3,5% m/m
Cl¯ 0,051% ≤ 0,10% m/m
Leader in Sustainable
Development
Lafarge has for many years been one of the leaders in its industry for actively
pursuing sustainable development policies. In 2009, for the sixth consecutive
year, Lafarge was listed in the ‘100 Global Most Sustainable Corporations in the
World’. The Group is using its unequalled technical resources to develop innovative
extended products that make a significant contribution to reducing carbon dioxide
emissions.
Fly ash and the environment:
Fly ash is an environmentally-friendly product. Worldwide, the increasing use of
fly ash as a component of building materials is making a significant contribution
to sustainable development by:
• Reducing the use of non-renewable resources such as limestone and coal
• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the cement industry
• Recycling a waste-product of coal burning power stations which cuts back
on the landfill sites
Technical Services
Powercrete Plus is fully supported by Lafarge Cement’s Quality Department
Southern Africa, which is a SANAS accredited Civil Engineering testing facility.
Complying with ISO/IEC 17025, the facility has a proud fifteen year track record
of continuous accreditation.
W/C Ratio 3 days 7 days 28 days
For further information on Powercrete Plus, contact us:
Toll-free: 0800 110 104 or Call Centre: 011 257 3085
www.lafarge.co.za
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