aggregate

A granular material such as sand (a fine aggregate) or gravel and crushed stone (coarse aggregate) that along with portland cement and water is a primary ingredient in concrete.

air entrainment

Microscopic air bubbles in concrete. Air entraining admixtures are frequently used in exterior concrete to increase its entrained air content in order to improve concrete's resistance to freeze-thaw damage. MetaMax® is compatible with air entraining admixtures.

alkali-silica reaction (ASR)

Alkali in portland cement can react with silica present in some types of aggregate. ASR can produce efflorescence and expansive forces that can crack concrete. MetaMax® reduces the potential for damage to concrete by converting the products of the ASR into compounds which contribute to the strength and durability of concrete.

aluminosilicate

The family of chemical compounds to which MetaMax® belongs.

amorphous

Having an uncrystallized structure like glass. MetaMax® and other pozzolanic materials have a glass-like, amorphous structure.

beneficiate

To process a raw material to improve its chemical or physical characteristics. The MetaMax® manufacturing process beneficiates metakaolin.

bleed water

A small amount of water in fresh concrete can bleed (rise) to the top of a slab or pour during finishing. Excessive bleed water can decrease the strength or durability of a finished surface. MetaMax® reduces the potential for bleed water by reducing the water required in a mixture.

calcine

A process whereby a material is heated to a high temperature to alter its chemical or physical characteristics. When kaolinite is calcined, its crystalline structure is converted to an amorphous metakaolin that is reactive in concrete.

calcination

A process whereby a material is heated to a high temperature to alter its chemical or physical characteristics. When kaolinite is calcined, its crystalline structure is converted to an amorphous metakaolin that is reactive in concrete.

calcined kaolinitic clay

calcined kaolinitic clay

calcium hydroxide

Also known as lime, calcium hydroxide is a chemical compound (Ca(OH)2) formed as a byproduct of cement hydration. MetaMax® reacts with calcium hydroxide to create additional cementitious bonds within concrete.

calcium silicate hydrate (CSH)

Formed by the hydration of portland cement, CSH is the glue that holds concrete together. MetaMax® forms CSH when it reacts with calcium hydroxide, thereby increasing the strength and density of the concrete.

carbon dioxide emission

Carbon dioxide (C02), a clear, odorless gas, is produced by burning fuels. It is a "green house" gas and increasing concentrations in the atmosphere is believed to contribute to global warming. Less fuel is used to produce MetaMax® HRM than portland cement. This means that using MetaMax® to replace portland cement can reduce C02 emissions by up to 90 percent.

cast-in-place

Concrete that is placed and cured in the location where it is intended for use. Compare to precast.

chloride ion

An electrically charged atom formed by salt in solution. Chloride (from road deicing salt, coastal atmospheres, or other sources) can penetrate concrete and contribute to corrosion of reinforcing steel. MetaMax® reduces chloride ion penetration by creating a denser and less porous concrete.

colored concrete

Concrete that has been integrally colored by adding pigments (usually mineral oxides) to a mixture. Because MetaMax® is white, it can be used to brighten or enhance the appearance of colored concrete.

concrete

A mixture in which a paste of portland cement and water binds aggregate into a rocklike mass that hardens due to the chemical action of cement and water.

concrete masonry unit (CMU)

A brick, block, paver, or other masonry unit formed from concrete.

coulomb

A unit of electrical charge. In concrete, coulombs are an indication of the potential for galvanic action that could lead to corrosion of steel reinforcement.

curing

The period following concrete placement and finishing during which portland cement hydrates and the concrete gains strength. The moisture and temperature of freshly placed concrete affect its curing.

early strength

The strength of concrete in the first hours or days after it begins to cure. Concrete continues to gain strength over time as it continues to cure. Because MetaMax® is highly reactive, it gains strength quickly and may accelerate construction or shorten the time required before a structure can be used. 

efflorescence

Deposits on a concrete surface formed when calcium hydroxide and other water soluble salts leach out of concrete. MetaMax® reduces efflorescence by converting calcium hydroxide into a non-water soluble compound.

fiber reinforcing

Randomly-oriented fibers distributed through concrete to improve certain properties such as tensile strength or crack resistance.

finishing

Leveling, smoothing, consolidating, and otherwise treating surfaces of fresh or recently-placed concrete to produce a desired appearance and service.

flatwork

Concrete floors and other horizontal slabs that require finishing operations on their top surface.

fly ash

A pozzolanic material. Since fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion during electrical generation, it may be inconsistent in appearance and performance. While fly ash alone does not produce concrete with the high-performance obtainable from MetaMax®, the use of fly ash in combination with MetaMax® can have synergistic benefits.

freeze-thaw

Damage caused by water that has penetrated into concrete and is exposed to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. MetaMax® reduces the potential for freeze-thaw by reducing the porosity of concrete.

glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC)

A type of precast concrete used for architectural cladding and ornament. While glass fibers impart tensile strength to concrete, they are prone to damage due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR). MetaMax® is added to GFRC to mitigate ASR.

gunite

A type of spray-applied concrete. MetaMax® is especially formulated to help reduce rebound when spray-applying concrete. Similar to "shotcrete".  

high-range water reducer (HRWR)

Compared to other water reducing admixtures, a HRWR significantly increases the ability of a mixture to flow so it can be pumped or placed more easily. Also known as "superplasticizer".

hydration

The chemical reaction between portland cement and water that cures or hardens the mixture into concrete.

kaolin 

A type of clay from which kaolinite is extracted. Also called "china clay". BASF has an abundant reserve of kaolin in central Georgia, U.S.A., located close to its manufacturing facilities, and takes precautions to assure that its mines are reclaimed in an environmentally sound manner.

kaolinite

A naturally occurring crystalline mineral that is extracted from kaolin.

lime

Also known as "lime", calcium hydroxide is a chemical compound (Ca(OH)2) formed as a byproduct of cement hydration. MetaMax® reacts with calcium hydroxide to create additional cementitious bonds within concrete.

metakaolin

A highly reactive aluminosilicate pozzolan formed by calcining purified kaolinite.

MetaMax® high reactivity metakaolin (HRM)

Highly reactive metakaolin produced by BASF Corporation. MetaMax® can improve the strength and durability of concrete. Because MetaMax® metakaolin is white, it will not darken or discolor concrete and can be used to improve the appearance of architectural concrete.

micron

A length equal to one thousandth of a millimeter. The ultra-fine size of MetaMax® particles, with an average 1.2 micron diameter, contribute to their high reactivity.

mineral admixture

Admixtures which have a cementitious effect to supplement the cementitious properties of portland cement. MetaMax® and other pozzolans are supplementary cementitious materials. Also known as mineral admixtures.

permeability

The property of allowing moisture, a primary contributor to concrete deterioration, to enter into and diffuse throughout concrete. MetaMax® improves concrete durability by reducing its permeability.

plastic concrete

Freshly mixed concrete that is capable of being molded or shaped.

plastic shrinkage

Plastic shrinkage occurs when water evaporates from concrete during the curing process. This shrinkage can generate cracks through which water can penetrate into concrete and promote deterioration. MetaMax® can reduce plastic shrinkage by reducing the water demand of the concrete.

pores/porosity

The quality of having pores, one of the factors that contributes to the permeability of concrete. MetaMax® reduces porosity by making calcium hydroxide insoluble so it can not leach out of concrete and, in doing so, create pores.

portland cement

A powder - formed by the calcination of limestone, clay and shale - that hardens and becomes cementitious when it reacts with water and which, when mixed with aggregate, can be used as the structural material known as portland cement concrete. Additional specifications for portland cement are in ASTM C150. White portland cement is made with selected raw materials to control its color.

pozzolan

A mineral admixture that reacts chemically with calcium hydroxide formed during portland cement hydration to create supplementary cementitious materials. MetaMax® is a pozzolanic material.

precast

Precast concrete is placed and cured in a factory or at some point other than its final position on a construction job site. Compare to cast-in-place.

reactivity

Capable of forming chemical compounds. As a highly reactive metakaolin, MetaMax® reacts efficiently with portland cement to improve the strength and durability of concrete.

rebound

Concrete that does not adhere to a surface to which it has been spray-applied (see gunite and shotcrete).

segregation

An uneven distribution of aggregate and cement paste that can occur when aggregate settle to the bottom of a concrete pour.

shotcrete

A type of spray-applied concrete. MetaMax® is especially formulated to help reduce rebound when spray-applying concrete. Similar to "gunite".

sieve

A wire mesh screen with square openings used to determine the size of aggregate.

silica fume

A pozzolanic material that can be used to create high-performance concrete. Concrete with MetaMax® can provide equivalent performance levels without some of the drawbacks of silica fume. Typically a dark gray, silica fume may not be acceptable when a light or colored concrete appearance is required. Silica fume has an extremely high water demand that produces a concrete mixture that may be sticky and hard to finish.

slump

A measure of the consistency of freshly mixed concrete in which a conical metal mold is first filled with fresh concrete, inverted, then lifted off the concrete. The distance the concrete settles measured to the nearest ¼ inch is the slump value. A high slump value is indicative of a wet or fluid concrete.

slurry

A flowable mixture of water and an insoluble material. MetaMax® is sometimes used in a slurry form to allow it to be pumped.

sulfate attack

A deleterious reaction between concrete and sulfates from the soil, ground water or other sources. MetaMax® reduces the potential for sulfate attack by creating a denser, less porous concrete and by chemically altering some of the compounds in concrete that are most susceptible to attack.

superplasticizer

Compared to other water reducing admixtures, a HRWR significantly increases the ability of a mixture to flow so it can be pumped or placed more easily. Also known as "superplasticizer".

supersacks

Supersacks are large sacks, usually fabricated from strong synthetic fibers, that can be used to simplify the shipping and handling of powdered products such as MetaMax®. Containing up to a ton of material, supersacks are designed to be transported by forklift or crane. They are an increasingly common way of handling bulk materials in concrete plants.

supplementary cementitious material

Admixtures which have a cementitious effect to supplement the cementitious properties of portland cement. MetaMax® and other pozzolans are supplementary cementitious materials. Also known as mineral admixtures.

viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. MetaMax® can help improve the viscosity of cement paste to prevent segregation while simultaneously creating a concrete mixture that can be pumped or placed efficiently.

washout resistance

The ability of a concrete mixture to remain cohesive during underwater placement. MetaMax® EF is especially suited for use in concrete placed under water.

water demand

The amount of water required to make a concrete mixture workable. MetaMax® has a lower water demand than silica fume, allowing MetaMax® to be used with a lower water-cement ratio for superior performance.

water reducer

A type of admixture that reduces the quantity of water required to make a concrete mixture workable. By permitting a lower water-cement ratio, water reducers can increase concrete strength and durability. MetaMax® is compatible with all commonly used water reducers.

water-cement ratio (also, water-cementitious material ratio)

The ratio (by weight) of the water to the cement in a concrete mixture. Increasingly, the term "water to cementitious material" ratio is being used to account for the use of supplementary cementitious materials (such as MetaMax®) in a mixture. A lower water-cement ratio usually produces concrete with higher strength and greater durability.

workability

The ease of placing, consolidating, and finishing freshly-mixed concrete.