What Is the Concrete and Mortar Chemical Admixture Manufacturers Association?

The Concrete and Mortar Chemical Additives Manufacturers Association (KÜB) was founded in 1998. Companies with a voice in the sector are members of our association. The names of ten member companies of our association in alphabetical order are: BASF Türk Kimya, CHRYSO-Katkı Malzemeleri, DRACO Yapı Kimyasalları, ERCA Group Kimya, FOSROC IDEA Yapı Kimyasalları, İKSA Beton Katkıları, POLİSAN Yapı Kimyasalları, SİKA Yapı Kimyasalları, YAPICHEM Kimya, YAPKİM Yapı Kimya.

Objectives of KÜB

We can list the fundamental objectives and mission of our association as follows: to bring concrete and mortar chemical additives manufacturers together under one roof and ensure coordination among them, to contribute to the production of concrete and mortar additives in compliance with universal quality standards and national and international standards, to provide technical, economic and social guidance to relevant persons and organizations in the sector regarding the subject and to raise consumer awareness, and to facilitate the introduction and implementation of new technologies in the sector. In line with this mission, as KÜB, we maintain active cooperation with IMSAD (Turkey Construction Materials Manufacturers Association), YÜF (Building Products Manufacturers Federation) and EFCA (European Concrete Admixtures Federation), which we are members of, and with other stakeholder organizations and associations in the construction and concrete sector.

Activities of the Additives Manufacturers Association

We deliver technical information presentations on concrete and mortar chemical additive technologies and applications at seminars organized by relevant government bodies, universities, and the organizations and associations of which we are members and sector stakeholders in the construction and concrete sector, and we share articles prepared by our technical committee. We believe that these educational seminars are very important for advancing the sector and raising consumer awareness. As KÜB, during the June 2015–June 2016 period, we conducted one training seminar each for the General Directorate of Highways Technical Research and Quality Control Department and the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, two seminars for universities within the scope of YÜF Materials Seminars, and five seminars for the Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association Laboratory Technicians. Just as we provide direct participation at trade fairs related to our sector, we are able to contribute to the organizations of which we are members. Last year, we participated directly in Concrete 2015 and the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Association Congresses with our KÜB stand. We publish a KÜB bulletin quarterly. In our bulletin, in addition to news related to our sector and activities, we place emphasis on technical articles and share these articles through our website as well. We follow the concrete chemical additives agenda in Europe and sector-related applications. We participate in the general assembly meetings and other activities organized by EFCA both domestically and internationally. Through our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, which will become operational in June, we aim to reach a much wider audience with technological developments related to the sector. We work in cooperation with KGS (Quality Assurance System Public Enterprise) in monitoring the quality standards of our member companies' products through tests conducted, ensuring compliance testing is carried out and reported.

Our Recommendations for the Sector

There is a need for regulations and technical specifications regarding concrete applications and chemical additive technologies used in concrete to be renewed and updated. At this point, relevant government bodies and construction sector associations need to work together on a common platform to produce technical solutions. Technical committees should be established to seek solutions and in this context the sector should be advanced further with its stakeholders. We believe that in order to prevent unfair competition sometimes encountered in the sector, consumer awareness should be raised and quality should become mandatory and even routine.

Chemical Concrete Additives and Types

Concrete is a building material composed of portland cement, water, aggregates, mineral and chemical additives that can be used for many different purposes and makes human life easier. Considering the strength, durability and versatility of concrete and comparing it with other construction materials, it is quite economical. Due to these properties, concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. Chemical concrete additives are used to affect the fresh and/or hardened properties of concrete, to increase and protect the workability of concrete, to facilitate pumping and placement, and to improve early and final strength of concrete.

Additive Classes and Certification

Concrete additive classes are defined according to TS-EN 934-2 standard and compliance with this standard is required. Concrete additives are classified according to their capabilities to reduce the amount of water added to concrete, their capacity to adjust and increase the amount of air in concrete, their effects on concrete setting times and water permeability, following the defined tests to be performed. You can find detailed information about additive classes on our website. • Water Reducers / Plasticizers (TS EN 934-2, C2) • High-Range Water Reducers / Superplasticizers (TS EN 934-2, C3.1/C3.2) • Water Retainers (TS EN 934-2, C4) • Air-Entraining Additives (TS EN 934-2, C5) • Set Accelerators (TS EN 934-2, C6) • Hardening Accelerators (TS EN 934-2, C7) • Set Retarders (TS EN 934-2, C8) • Water-Proofing Additives (TS EN 934-2, C9) • Set Retarders / Water Reducers / Plasticizers (TS EN 934-2, C10) • Set Retarders / High-Range Water Reducers / Superplasticizers (TS EN 934-2, C11.1/C11.2) • Viscosity Modifiers (TS EN 934-2, C13) On the other hand, another current classification and certification issue in terms of concrete additives is Environmental Product Declaration. In this declaration, the effects that products have on the environment throughout their life cycle in the areas where they are used are presented to consumers in a transparent, measurable and comparable manner. With this declaration, the environmental impacts of concrete additives based on the raw materials they contain will be disclosed and recorded in public records. According to the recognized model and calculation method created by the European Concrete Admixtures Federation (EFCA), of which we are members, KÜB member companies have the opportunity to publish Environmental Product Declarations for the concrete and mortar additives they produce. Emrah Ertin Association President / Concrete and Mortar Chemical Additives Manufacturers Association