Phil Matisak
Master Builders Solutions US & Canada
Concrete is the most-used man-made material in the world. The increased attention paid to reducing carbon emissions brings this conversation about reducing concrete embodied carbon to the center stage. There are many options for concrete producers to address carbon reduction in their concrete mixtures, which we will discuss below.
Admixtures, an ingredient in concrete, can help make a positive impact on the following four sustainability areas for concrete construction:
1. Reducing the carbon footprint (embodied CO2) of concrete by decreasing the cement content
2. Lowering the consumption of natural and other resources while reducing waste
3. Improving durability and longevity of structures
4. Quantifying the impact of concrete products through the use of digital tools
Admixtures are used in the production of concrete to modify the properties and make it easier to work with to achieve the desired outcomes. They provide specific benefits such as workability, finishability, strength, and durability to resist aggressive environments, making it a sustainable construction material.
Master Builder Solutions has had a strong focus on sustainable solutions for over a decade, however, our roots go way back to the water-reducer used in the concrete for the Hoover Dam. Let’s talk about the common admixture products and systems available now for concrete construction projects.
Reducing Water and Cement in Concrete Mixtures
Our innovations in sustainability started back in the 1930s with the introduction of MasterPozzolith®, the first water-reducing concrete admixture that conserved water, reduced the amount of cement, and therefore, lowered the amount of CO2 in the concrete mixture. Today, our water-reducing admixtures, such as MasterGlenium® and MasterPolyheed®, have enabled our concrete producer customers in the U.S. and Canada to conserve approximately 288 million gallons of water in one year (1.1 billion litres), per estimated calculations. Water savings like this are of critical importance for areas where water stress is a serious issue.
Improving Concrete Strength to Reduce Cement Content
Master X-Seed admixtures are patented, strength-enhancing admixtures that improve concrete early- and late-age strength development, while supporting sustainable construction. Its technology allows for a reduction in cement content leading to a reduction in CO2 in concrete mixtures by up to 20%. It has been proven to lower the cost of energy used in production by 15%. It is the only stand-alone admixture capable of enhancing concrete strength while reducing cement content.
When using Master X-Seed admixtures in combination with other Master Builders Solutions admixture technologies, the CO2 in a concrete mixture can be reduced by as much as 30% to 50% without sacrificing strength or durability requirements.
Green Sense® Concrete – High Performance Sustainable Concrete
Green Sense Concrete is a highly optimized concrete mixture design in which recycled cementitious and non-cementitious materials are combined with specially formulated Master Builders Solutions admixtures. This concept has been used on some of the world’s most iconic structures, such as, One World Trade in New York City and the Shard in London. This high-performance sustainable concrete (HPSC) has demonstrated performance of over 70% replacement of cement and over 70% reduction in embodied CO2 in comparison to industry-standard concrete recipes. Additionally, the Green Sense® methodology allows for lower energy demands, lower water demands, and other reductions in environmental impacts.
By making measurable sustainable choices, concrete producers are able to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and provide solutions to reduce the carbon footprint, lower consumption of resources and reduce waste in concrete construction while improving service life of structures. Stay tuned for Part 2 that includes solutions to increase service life of structures, recycling returned fresh concrete, and going beyond products to digital tools and quantifying sustainability.
Visit the Master Builder Solutions sustainability page to learn more about its support for sustainable growth.