Admixtures from MC ensure efficient flow

The M80 motorway is part of the large-scale Hungarian infrastructure project known as “Autópálya M8”. During the construction of the 570 m long viaduct near Vasszentmihály – as with around 40 other road construction projects in Hungary – high-performance superplasticisers from the MC PowerFlow range helped ensure smooth construction progress.

 

The M8 motorway begins in the west of Hungary at the state border with Austria, and will form part of Europe’s “Route 66” leading to Szolnok, south-east of Budapest. A section of some thirty kilometres from Szentgotthárd to Körmend will initially be constructed as the M80 motorway based on one lane per direction, with plans to expand it to two lanes per direction in the future. As part of the route, one of the longest viaducts in Hungary – measuring 570 metres in length – had to be built near Vasszentmihály. The construction work began in spring 2018. The National Infrastructure Development Company (Nemzeti Infrastruktúra Fejlesztő Zrt.) entrusted construction of the viaduct to the companies Duna Aszfalt Kft. and Mészáros és Mészáros Kft. The ready-mixed concrete came from Danucem Magyarország Kft., one of Hungary’s leading concrete companies and a long-standing customer of MC Hungary.

 

High-spec concrete required

The remarkable topographical complexity of the area around Vasszentmihály and the associated transport routes to the construction site placed special demands on the properties of the concrete. The formulation originally chosen by the construction companies had to be modified before the start of construction due to a change in the cement used.

 

The experts from MC Hungary were then called in to counter the change in the material mix by providing appropriate admixtures. After a series of trials and final tests, MC-PowerFlow 2274 and MC-PowerFlow 5632, two high-performance superplasticisers specially developed for use in ready-mixed concrete, were applied. Both admixtures are based on the very latest polymer technology developed by MC. In addition, Centrament Retard 310, a retarder with a liquefying effect, was chosen to further extend processing time and slow hydration and heat development.

 

Fast and efficient concrete production with MC-PowerFlow

MC-PowerFlow 2274 can be mixed evenly into the concrete in a very short time to provide an excellent, durable consistency with a working time of up to three hours. An admixture specifically designed for ready-mixed concrete, MC-PowerFlow 5632 creates concretes of high flowability as well as being ideal for self-compacting concretes (SCC), especially in combination with composite cement.

 

With economical dosages and high water savings, both products ensure fast and cost-efficient concrete production together with excellent performance properties. A total of 10,000 m³ of concrete and 40 metric tons of MC admixtures were used in the construction of the Vasszentmihály viaduct. The 9.45 kilometre section of the M80 between Vasszentmihály and Rábafüzes had already been completed by June 2021. The remaining section was opened to traffic on 21 October 2021.