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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:53 pm
by Brucieboy
Believe it or not my daughter works for one of the plc's as a sales co-ordinator dealing with ready mixed concrete, aggregates, recycling and asphalt (the latter of which I know very little). We talk shop when she comes over to visit until my wife gets the hump and tells us to change the subject 
Bruce - you can buy relatively small quantities of powdered microsilica in 20kg bags from Carbon Enterprises Ltd based in Esher, Surrey.
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:34 am
by mnlad743
Brucieboy wrote:Bruce - you can buy relatively small quantities of powdered microsilica in 20kg bags from Carbon Enterprises Ltd based in Esher, Surrey.
I've had a look at Carbon Enterprises web site and they carry four different microsilica products - are all suitable or should I be looking at one of their products in particular? Perhaps the M600 as I gather it's white in colour and will therefore have the least impact on the colour of the overall mix - always a plus when working with powdered pigments.
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:37 am
by mnlad743
Brucieboy - Another question is if microsilica is going to be included in a mix - at what concentration?
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:35 pm
by Brucieboy
Bruce - we normally use Microsilica 93 (densified) at 40 kg/m3. It is dark grey which, as you say, may impact on the colour of the concrete if using white cement and pigments. We haven't used M600 (undensified) white microsilica to my knowledge, however, its relative density and bulk density (2.3 and 600 kg/m3 respectively) are both similar to that of Microsilica 93 so the performance should be similar. To be certain, I strongly recommend you contact their sales/technical advisor to obtain more specialist advice about the product, including any relevant health and safety requirements (as with all materials). Remember it is an extermely fine powder, each grain is at least 100 times smaller than a cement grain.
On double checking, Microsilica 93 is supplied in 10 kg bags (cost somewhere in the region of £5-6 per bag but, as usual, it depends on quantity, haulage etc). Not sure of the bag size or cost of M600.
As you're in a position to do trials, you may be able to use a lower quantity, say 25 or 30 kg/m3 - it depends on the finish you require and your budget. As I stated previously, it's normal practice to use microsilica with a superplasticiser (or medium-range water reducer). The slump needs to be in the region of 100-150 mm otherwise it becomes quite difficult to handle, i.e. very stodgy. Keep the cement content at 400 kg/m3 for best results.
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:44 pm
by nova_ndut
Can anyone advise me the stockist I can get PROCEM from. I'm based in Edinburgh. Many thanks.
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:55 am
by Brucieboy
Procem is made by Lafarge Cement but usually available on special order from builders merchants that stock their other products such as General Purpose Cement, Mastercrete and Snowcrete. Best ask around.