Masonry & Hardscape Solutions
Admixtures for producing high-quality manufactured concrete products.
We have developed a full line of admixtures designed for dry-cast concrete products. Widely known as the maker of the DRY-BLOCK® System of integral water repellents, we manufacture admixtures to control efflorescence and enhance the production of architectural concrete block, concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall units.
OPTEC® offers admixtures to control primary and secondary efflorescence while QUANTEC® offers plasticizers, accelerators and strength enhancers to improve overall quality and enhance production.
Masonry & Hardscape Solutions Product Documents
| Product Name | Product Data Sheet | SDS/MSDS |
| DRY-BLOCK® mortar admixture | ||
| OPTEC® EC-140 | ||
| OPTEC® EC-191 | ||
| OPTEC® EC-255 | ||
| OPTEC® EC-925 | ||
| OPTEC® EC-935 | ||
| OPTEC® EC-978 | ||
| OPTEC® Paver Enhancer | ||
| Pallet Lub 205 | ||
| QUANTEC® NC-525P | ||
| QUANTEC® NC-544 | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-410A | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-415A | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-450 | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-450 Product Data Sheet | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-466 | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-466 Product Data Sheet | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-477R | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-490 | ||
| QUANTEC® PL-495R | ||
| QUANTEC® ULTRA ES | ||
| QUANTEC® XL-524P | ||
| QUANTEC® XL-524P Product Data Sheet | ||
| TRYSTA® |
Products
- Product Name
- Description
- Key Benefits
- Applications Type
An integral water repellent admixture specially designed to disperse throughout the mixture during manufacture of the block so that a uniform level of water repellency is achieved. Utilizing patented polymer technology, a long-term water repellency is developed.
- Improved machinability
- Uniform surface finish
- Improved workability
The DRY-BLOCK System has been successfully used on thousands of masonry structures to provide moisture control.
OPTEC® EC-140 admixture offers a new level of efflorescence control to the concrete hardscape industry. It is formulated as a ready-to-use admixture to enhance the quality and appearance of concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall units.
- Controls primary and secondary efflorescence
- Improves color consistency
- Reduces feed and finish times
- Improves cement utilization
OPTEC® EC-140 admixture has been especially designed for the efficient production of concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall units.
OPTEC® EC-191 admixture is specially formulated to control primary efflorescence by reacting with alkaline salts before water can solubilize them. It is a ready-to-use admixture to enhance the quality and appearance of masonry units.
- Controls primary and secondary efflorescence
- Improves color consistency
- Provides short-term water repellency
- Reduces culls
Efficient production of hardscape concrete products like segmental retaining wall units and concrete paving stones.
OPTEC® EC-255R is an innovative admixture formulated to enhance the quality and appearance of Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) concrete units and architectural Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) as well as other low slump concrete products. OPTEC® EC-255R can enhance color dispersion and help minimize both cube and secondary efflorescence. OPTEC® EC-255R provides a textured unit with no swipe.
- Minimizes cube and secondary efflorescence
- Increased throughput
- Decreases cycle times
- Lowers absorption
- Improves surface texture
OPTEC® EC-255 may be used in plants producing architectural block, segmental retaining wall units, pavers and other low slump concrete products.
OPTEC® EC-925 is an innovative admixture specifically formulated to enhance the overall appearance of hardscapes and architectural concrete masonry units.
- Controls primary and secondary efflorescence
- Optimized for dosage efficiency
- Improves cement and pigment dispersion
OPTEC® EC-935 is a liquid admixture added to the concrete during the batching process. It controls efflorescence in pavers, segmental retaining wall units and other low slump concrete products.
Reduced efflorescence
Smoother, denser surface
Set-time control
Sharper corners and edges
OPTEC® EC-978 admixture provides color enhancement and efflorescence control to the concrete roof tile industry. It is formulated as a ready-to-use admixture to aid the extrusion process and enhance the quality and appearance of concrete roof tile.
- Improves cement and pigment dispersion
- Minimizes efflorescence
- Enhances color
- Aids extrusion process
- Lowers absorption
- Improves compressive strengths
OPTEC® EC-978 admixture is especially designed for the efficient production of concrete roof tile.
OPTEC® Paver Enhancer is an innovative admixture specifically formulated to enhance the physical properties and overall appearance of concrete Pavers and Segmented Retaining Wall (SRW) units. OPTEC® Paver Enhancer can enhance color dispersion and help minimize secondary efflorescence. It provides excellent mix plasticity for improved physical attributes and machinability.
- Improves cement and pigment dispersion
- Cement and pigment reduction potential
- Improves compressive strength
- Minimizes secondary efflorescence
- Decreases cycle time
- Increases density
- Lowers absorption
OPTEC® Paver Enhancer may be used in concrete pavers, segmental retaining wall units and other low slump concrete products where improved physical properties and aesthetics are desired.
QUANTEC® NC-544 admixture is a non-chloride, non-corrosive, accelerator for use in the manufacture of concrete products where the process requires zero or very low slump concrete and accelerated early strengths. QUANTEC® NC-544 admixture does not contain calcium chloride and is non-corrosive to pallets, racks and molds.
- Non-chloride/non-corrosive
- Hastens hydration process
- Sharper corners and edges
QUANTEC® NC 544 admixture is typically used at a rate of 5-10 oz/cwt (325-650 mL/100 kg) of cementitious material.
QUANTEC® PL-466 admixture is specially formulated for use in the manufacture of machined concrete products where the process requires zero or low slump concrete and where a smoother, denser, surface finish with a swipe is desirable.
- Faster cycle time
- Smoother, denser surface
- Reduced cracking and crazing
- Increased plasticity
- Sharper corners and edges
- Fewer culls
- Cost effective
QUANTEC® PL-466 admixture may be used in all zero or low slump concrete to increase workability while retaining cohesiveness.
QUANTEC® PL-477R admixture is specially formulated for use in the manufacture of machined concrete products where the process requires zero or low slump concrete, and where a normal textured surface is desired.
- Faster cycle time
- Low use cost
- Increased plasticity
- Reduced cracking and crazing
- Sharper corners and edges
- Uniform texture
- Fewer culls
QUANTEC® PL-477R admixture is intended for use in concrete block, concrete pipe, concrete roof tile and concrete brick.
QUANTEC® PL-490 admixture is a concentrated plasticizer specially formulated for use in the production of concrete block, concrete, pipe and other low slump concrete products where a smooth, tight surface with a light swipe is preferred. QUANTEC® PL-490 admixture is supplied as a liquid concentrate but it is intended to be used in a diluted form.
- Light swipe
- Increased throughput
- Sharper corners and edges
- Fewer culls
- Cost effective
- Smoother, denser surface
- Better compaction
QUANTEC® PL-490 admixture may be used in all zero or low slump concrete to increase workability while retaining cohesiveness, and to provide for more complete hydration of the cement.
QUANTEC® PL-495R admixture is a concentrated plasticizer specially formulated for use in concrete block, concrete pipe and other zero or low slump concrete products where a normal textured surface is desired. QUANTEC® PL-495R admixture is supplied as a liquid concentrate, but it is intended to be used in a diluted form.
- Normal texture
- Increased throughput
- Sharper corners and edges
- Fewer culls
QUANTEC® PL-495R admixture may be used in all zero or low slump concrete to increase workability while retaining cohesiveness and to provide for more complete hydration of the cement.
QUANTEC® ULTRA-ES admixture is a high performance cement dispersant based on a patented technology.
- Improves cement utilization
- Reduces feed and finish times
- Increases compressive and strengths
- Reduces culls
QUANTEC® ULTRA-ES admixture is a superior dispersant with a marked capacity to break up the cement agglomerates normally found in high cement content, dry-cast concrete mixtures.
QUANTEC® XL-524P admixture is a non-chloride based plasticizing set accelerator for machine produced concrete products where the process requires zero or very low slump concrete.
- Hastens hydration process
- Increased throughput
- Better compaction
- Increased plasticity
TRYSTA® freeze/thaw durability-enhancing admixture is based on patented technology. It is for zero slump concrete applications such as segmental retaining wall units and concrete pavers, which are exposed to environments of repeated freezing and thawing.
- Enhances freeze/thaw durability
- Reduces feed and finish times
- Reduces culls
TRYSTA® admixture provides dramatically improved freeze/thaw durability to manufactured concrete products
DRY-BLOCK® System — The standard in integral water repellents
DRY-BLOCK® is the most widely specified integral water repellent system on the market. It is designed to resist moisture penetration of both concrete masonry units and mortar.
The DRY-BLOCK® System consists of two separate components which are added to the concrete mix. The first, DRY-BLOCK® Block Admixture, is mixed curing the manufacture of the concrete masonry unit. The second, DRY-BLOCK® Mortar Admixture, is added to the mortar.
While the system cures, the admixtures within the masonry unit and the mortar become locked in, offering waterproof protection that will last for the lifetime of the structure.
OPTEC® — Performance Enhancement for architectural CMU and hardscapes
Most hardscape producers battle efflorescence on a daily basis. Our OPTEC® line of admixtures are designed to control all types of efflorescence. At the same time they also help improve color intensity and physical properties. With OPTEC®, the end product is strong, is durable and repels water. And, of course, all OPTEC® admixtures make concrete highly workable to lower production cycle times.
QUANTEC® — A complete range of solutions for high-volume producers of low-slump and no-slump concrete
Our QUANTEC® line admixtures provide a multitude of benefits including improve plasticity and machinability, which results in greater throughput, enhanced compressive strength and durability and reduced absorption.
Blue360sm Field Advantage
Our Blue360sm Field Advantage experts are at your service to solve production challenges. Whether you're concerned about a quality issue or need to expand your product lines to meet your customers' needs, we're here to help.
Our field technical services include:
- On-site product trials and testing
- Plant process improvements
- Certification training for DRY-BLOCK® System producers
- On-site and remote technical support and troubleshooting
