Concrete admixtures are ingredients other than aggregates, water, fibers, and hydraulic cement, which are added to the concrete batch directly before or during mixing, in nominal quantities. It includes retarding agents, normal plasticizers, waterproofing agents, accelerating agents, superplasticizers, air-entraining agents etc.
Plasticizers are additives that increase the plasticity or decrease the viscosity of a material. The water reducing rate of normal plasticizer is usually 5% - 10%. Retarding agent is a chemical agent that slows down a chemical reaction. Waterproofing agents are sealant additives that repel water and prevent damage to the underlying sealed substrate. Superplasticizers also known as high range water reducers, are additives used in making high strength concrete. The water reducing rate of superplasticizer is usually 12% - 25%. Accelerating agent is an admixture for the use in concrete, mortar, rendering or screeds. Air-Entraining agents are compounds that entrain microscopic air bubbles in cement compositions, which then harden into concrete having microscopic air voids.
Global concrete admixtures market was valued at 13690 Million US$ in 2018 and is projected to reach 15571 Million US$ by 2024, at a CAGR of 2.17% during the forecast period, among all concrete admixtures, water reducing agent accounts for 77% of the market share.
The concrete admixture industry concentration is not high, there are about 50 main manufacturers in the world, and high-end products mainly from Europe and North America, key players in global Concrete admixtures market include: BASF, Chryso, Fosroc International, Mapei, Pidilite Industries, Ashland, CICO Technologies, RPM International, SIKA, Cemex, W. R. Grace, The Dow Chemical etc. The key consumption markets locate at developed countries. The Asia-Pacific the market share of 45%, followed by Europe with 22%. Global consumption market has a quicker growing speed of CAGR 2.87%