Mapei releases range of SCM-boosting concrete admixtures, including Australian-developed variant

Construction industry chemicals company Mapei has officially launched Mapecube, a range of concrete admixtures, with an Australian formulation developed at the company’s Brisbane plant.

According to a statement from the Milan, Italy-based company on Friday (Australian time), Mapecube is “designed to strengthen and reduce the CO2 footprint of concrete” and allows concrete producers to “use increased volumes of alternative binders while maintaining or enhancing the concrete’s durability.”

The range is described as promoting concrete strength development “at all ages” and allowing an increased proportion of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in the mix. Benefits include costs savings and lower levels of embodied carbon versus general purpose cement.

Two popular examples of SCMs are fly ash (a power station by-product) and granulated blast furnace slag.

The company cited data showing that cement-making contributed 1.56 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide worldwide in 2023, approximately eight per cent of the total. 

“We are excited and proud to launch the Mapecube into the Australian market as… [an] industry first, innovative, and commercially viable solution that actively supports the industry in upholding high standards while reducing its climate impact,” Mapei General Manager Australia, Marco DeSantis (pictured), said. 

“This innovation is an important contribution to Australia’s cement and concrete industry’s quest for  climate neutrality as we transition to net zero by 2050.”

The local version, Mapecube 70, was designed and developed at the company’s Wacol plant. Product information is available here.

According to the company, the range can be added alongside other admixtures and will “enhance early strength in 24 hours, mid-to-late strength in seven days, and late strength in 28 days.”

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