15th China Superplasticizer and Raw Materials Market Summit & Annual Conference of China Concrete Network

The 15th China Superplasticizer and Raw Materials Market Summit and the Annual Conference of China Concrete Network, along with the Technical Arena Competition, was held on the 20th in Hefei, Anhui. This event attracted participation from over 40 leading companies in the field of admixtures and related materials across the country.

In this competition, contestants competed fiercely in four areas: alkali-free liquid accelerators, concrete viscosity reducers, large monomers of admixtures, and small monomers of admixtures. The competition included several stages such as sample synthesis, product trial mixing, performance characterization, and mixture testing. The judging panel conducted a comprehensive evaluation from multiple dimensions, including product innovation, practicality, and environmental friendliness.

It is known that in the 1930s, it was discovered that adding sulfite pulp waste to concrete improved the workability of the mixture and enhanced its strength and durability. In 1937, a superplasticizer with lignosulfonate as the main component was patented.

According to Professor Liu Xiao from Beijing University of Technology, China's development of admixtures started slightly later than abroad but progressed rapidly. In the 1950s, research and application of lignosulfonates and air-entraining agents began. By the 1970s, there were independently developed products of naphthalene-based and melamine-based high-efficiency superplasticizers. In the late 1990s, modified melamine, amino sulfonates, and aliphatic high-efficiency superplasticizers developed quickly.

"Since 2006, driven by the construction of high-speed railways, polycarboxylate high-performance superplasticizers have also developed rapidly. Superplasticizers have promoted the development of new concrete technologies in China and the application of industrial by-products in the cementitious material system, gradually becoming indispensable materials for high-quality concrete," said Professor Sun Zhenping from Tongji University.

"Viscosity-modifying materials are organic-inorganic composite high-performance materials with properties such as thickening, thixotropy, and foam stability, mainly suitable for highly fluid concrete, especially self-compacting concrete," said China Concrete Network. "The only manufacturer in China that masters the core technology for special viscosity-modifying materials for CRTS III slab self-compacting concrete, product production, and application technology, and has related engineering application achievements, holds four national patents for viscosity-modifying materials and application technology, leading the world in this field."

"In recent years, admixtures have become crucial engineering materials for improving the working performance of concrete in modern construction, covering dozens of types such as superplasticizers, accelerators, and viscosity reducers," stated Associate Professor Liu Guanjie from the Concrete Admixture Technology Research Center at Shanxi University. "This summit is not only a technical arena but also a barometer of industry development trends. Through exchanges, companies can gain insights into market demand changes, adjust their development strategies in a timely manner, and promote healthy competition and technological progress within the industry."