Research & Development / 5/8/2024

CUBE System: an integrated approach

The system developed by Mapei actively helps the concrete industry maintain its high standards while reducing the environmental impact

Author

Gianluca Bianchin

Corporate Product Manager - Admixtures for Low Carbon Concrete, Mapei Group

CUBE System addresses the challenges of using reduced clinker cements and recycled aggregates in concrete production. By supplying innovative superplasticizers, strength enhancers and technical assistance, it allows to maintain high quality standards while reducing environmental impact.

The use of cement with lower clinker content and recycled aggregates in concrete production presents several challenges for the concrete industry. The complexity of these challenge is increased further due to the regionality of the raw materials (sand and gravel) used in the production process. Mapei has developed the CUBE system: an integrated approach that helps the concrete manufacturers overcome these difficulties through the various phases of production, casting and on-site work.

The CUBE System actively helps the industry maintain its high standards while reducing the emissions of CO₂. It helps the concrete industry become more sustainable by supplying cutting-edge superplasticizers; strength enhancers for the new cements with reduced clinker content; a reliable and timely technical service; a specific tool, which is available for our customers, to calculate the environmental impact of concrete.

New generation superplasticizers

The DYNAMON CUBE range is specifically designed to face the challenges of sustainable concrete. It makes use of very robust polymers designed to work with CEM II, CEM III, CEM IV and CEM V and Secondary Cementitious Materials such as limestone fillers, GGBS/slag and fly-ash; absorption inhibitors (RE-CON AGG Technology); and specific gradual-release polymers guaranteeing that workability and low viscosity are maintained for longer times without delaying the setting phase.

Strength enhancers

Thanks to a proprietary technology based on nano-composites of silicate hydrates and the maximization of the hydration level of binders, CUBE system is the “forefather” of a new generation of admixtures for Low Carbon Concrete.

The admixtures of this range exploit reactions such as Secondary Nucleation (SN), Augmented Pozzolanic Reaction (APO) and Alkaline activation (AA). They enable the development of higher mechanical strength both in short and long term.

Technical Services

The Research & Development work in our laboratories in Milan and in the other 31 laboratories in various countries focuses on the entire life cycle of structures, reducing their environmental impact through innovative solutions and a timely assistance service during all phases of the construction site. Thanks to our mobile laboratories, we are able to support Works Directors, contractors and concrete manufacturers during all phases of the intervention: design, selection of raw materials, study of the mix-design, organisation of site logistics, definition and execution of acceptance tests and post-cast monitoring.

Find out more about Mapei solutions for the concrete industry at: https://www.mapei.com/cis/en/home-page