Data sheet 112A

PLASTIRETARD
Set-retarding admixture for concrete

Complies with standard NF EN 934.2.

Description
PLASTIRETARD is a set-retarding admixture that can be used with any concretes. When
used in certain proportions, it behaves like a water-reducing admixture.
Colour: yellow, slightly cloudy.

General characteristics
Owing to its physico-chemical action PLASTIRETARD has the following advantages:

On fresh concrete:
• It improves the workability even though the quantity of mixing water is reduced
• It disperses the cement uniformly in the mass
• It prevents the segregation and increases the thixotropy
• It slows the start of setting and preserves the fluidity during the period of time required for
placing concrete
• It spreads the liberation of heat due to cement hydration.

On hardened concrete:
• It improves the mechanical strengths
• It increases the compacity and watertightness
• It reduces the shrinkage and creeping

Applications COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (MPa)

0,5 % PLASTIRETARD
Improvement of mechanical
strengths 40
0,2 % PLASTIRETARD
Owing to a reduction of water of from 10
to 15 % PLASTIRETARD increases the 30
MIX SPECIMEN
long-term mechanical strengths of
concrete by 20 to 30%.
20
It also improves its compacity. MECHANICAL STRENGTHS ON
It is particularly well adapted to (350-kg/m3 CPA-CEM I 42,5) CONCRETE
10 WITH A CONSTANT WORKABILITY
• Reinforced and prestressed concretes
• Concretes for reservoirs. TIME (days)

3 7 28

Prescriptions
Article No.
1. Concretes placed in hot weather ...
Concretes placed in thick layers ...
Concretes conveyed by pumping ...
Will be added with a PLASTIRETARD type or equivalent retarding plasticiser during mixing. The product
shall be used according to the manufacturer’s indications.
2. Concretes exposed to great strains
Concretes that are to be highly compact
Will be added with a PLASTIRETARD type or equivalent high-efficiency water reducing admixture during
mixing. The product shall be used according to the manufacturer’s indications.

1
 PLASTIRETARD

Concreting during hot weather

The set-retarding effect of PLASTIRETARD avoids a sudden rise in concrete temperature
during setting and makes its use absolutely necessary
• When the temperature is high
• In the case of great-mass concretes: dams, etc .

Concreting rework
The long set retardation PLASTIRETARD can cause makes it possible to rework concreting
after it has been discontinued for several hours without any other precaution than a
protection against drying.

Long-duration concrete transport

SETTING TIME (hours)
The use of PLASTIRETARD allows 25
trouble-free transportation of any
concretes over long distances in any
conditions (temperatures, risk of traffic 20
End of setting Start of setting
jam, .)
15

SETTING TIME
10 ON ISO MORTAR
(CPA-CEM I 52,5 cement)

5
PLASTIRETARD
PROPORTION (%)

0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5

Improvement of the workability

PLASTIRETARD acting as a retarding plasticiser can be used for placing any types of
concrete and more especially:
• When a greater workability is required
• For pumped concretes
• For as-stripped concretes (architectonic aspect)

Ph and Ch (and mechanical) characteristics

• Aqueous solution
• Density: 1,175 +/- 0,015
• pH: 8,5 +/- 10,5
• Chloride ion content: < 0,1 %
• Na2O content equiv.: < 6,0 %
• Dry extract: 29,5 to 32,6 %
• Compatible with all types of cement

Packaging
• 30-litre small barrel
• 250-kg drum
• 1000-litre non-returnable container
• In bulk

Storage and shelf-life

PLASTIRETARD freezes at about -4°C.
In case of long and intense freezing or high temperature, check to see that it has not been
destabilised.
The product stored in an unopened packaging has a three-year shelf-life.

2
 PLASTIRETARD

Dosage
Recommended utilisation range
From 0,2 to 0,5 % of cement by weight (i.e. 0,17 to 0,43 litres / 100 kg of cement) depending
on the effect required.
• Between 0,15 and 0,25 %: plasticising effect only
• A 0,5 % content may be exceeded when setting has to be slowed for a long time. In such
a case tests must be made with various contents under site conditions (especially the
temperature) so as to determine the content needed to obtain the required result.
• For use of PLASTIRETARD with fused cement, consult us.

In-lab tests
• Mechanical strengths at 7 and 28 days - CETE (Lyon). Test report No. PD 76/405 of
24.11.76
• Mechanical strengths at 7, 28, 90 and 365 days - EMPA (Zurich). Test report No. 56239/
39 of 11.02.69
• Compliance with DIN 1045 Institut Fuer Bautechnik (Berlin) of 16.05.74
• Compliance with ASTM C 494, D type. Testwell Laboratories (USA). Test report No. IZ -
16 of 23.08.79

Directions for use

PLASTIRETARD is placed in the mix either after it has been mixed with water or
simultaneously with it
Preliminary tests are recommended to determine the quantity of mixing water needed to
obtain the required workability.

Important considerations
Non-hazardous handling.
In case of contact with the skin, a simple washing with water will be sufficient.
Consult data sheet on Minitel 3613, code SIKASECUR or on Internet http://www.sika.fr (free
service).

This english version is a translation of the reference french data sheet

Product for strictly professional use only. «The information, and, in particular, the
«The product described in this data sheet is covered recommandations relating to the application and
under the manufacturer’s product liability policy».
end-use of SIKA products, are given in good
faith based on SIKA’s current knowledge and
experience of the products when properly stored,
handled and applied under normal conditions.
In practice, the differences in materials,
SIKA S.A. : Export Department substrates and actual site conditions are such
1 0 1 , r u e d e T o l b i a c
75654 PARIS Cedex 13 - France that no warranty in respect of merchantability or
Tél.: +33 1 53 79 79 60 - Fax : +33 1 53 79 79 69 of fitness for a particular purpose, nor any liability
arising out of any legal relationship whatsoever,
can be inferred either from this information, or
from any written recommendations, or from any
other advice offered. The proprietary rights of
third parties must be observed. All orders are
accepted subject to our current terms of sale
and delivery. Users should always refer to the
most recent issue of the french version of the
Technical Data Sheet for the produt concerned,
copies of which will be supplied on request».

Version 1 - April 2001. 3