This information is based on our present state of knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on our products and their uses. It should not be construed as guaranteeing specific properties or suitability for a particular application
Calumex® QX-P is an additive to Portland cement, specially developed as a high-performance shrinkage-reducing agent based on calcium sulfoaluminate (C.S.A.). Due to its mineral composition, ettringite is formed when combined with Portland cement. The micron-sized ettringite crystals formed during the cement hardening mitigate the thermal and gel hardening shrinkage through expansion.
The expansion that occurs is part of the strength development and not to be confused with the expansion that occurs before the strength development, e.g., gas evolution from alumina powder, or volume increase that occurs from quicklime hydration.
In most cases, a replacement of the binder content of approximately 6-10% will give enough expansion to compensate for the shrinkage and attain neutral cement. An increase in dosage leads to further expansion and may result in severe damage to the mortar or concrete.
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Al2O3 | 18-23% |
| SiO2 | 4-7% |
| Fe2O3 | < 1.5% |
| fCaO | 0.16-0.18% |
| Blaine | 3800-4300 cm²/g |
| Density | ± 2.85 g/cm³ |
| Color | Beige |
Setting times based on the following formulation:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Initial setting time | ± 3 minutes |
| Final setting time | ± 6 minutes |
Strength development based on the following formulation:
| Time | Compressive Strength (N/mm²) | Flexural Strength (N/mm²) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | ≥ 30 | ± 6 |
| 7 days | ≥ 50 | ± 8.5 |
| 28 days | ≥ 65 | ± 8.5 |
Shrinkage results based on the following formulation:
| Time | Shrinkage (mm/m) |
|---|---|
| 6 hours | 0.00 |
| 24 hours | 0.00 |
| 48 hours | 0.00 |
| 7 days | 0.01 |
| 28 days | 0.02 max |
Note: Applying different types or sources of Portland cement can lead to varying results.
