November 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
39
admixtures
Products supplied by the Chryso
Southern Africa Group are being
extensively used for the upgrading
of the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in
the Eastern Cape.
CHRYSOSA, AND ITS SISTER
company, a.b.e.
Construction Chemicals, are providing the
essential products from its Port Elizabeth and
East London operations.
The CeciliaMakiwane construction project
at Mdantsane, East London, comprises – in
seven phases – the provision of a new 46 500
square metres double-storey main hospital
building. Also included in the upgrading are
the provision of a nursing college, a new 150-
bed step-down facility, 100-bed psychiatric
unit, and the upgrading of the current hospital
into a 350-bed facility.
The main contractor for the multi-million
randproject – at present about half completed
– is the Stefanutti Stocks/CMH Joint Venture.
It is one of the largest construction projects
currently in progress in the Eastern Cape. In
fact, Gareth Catherine, Technical Sales Con-
sultant for a.b.e. Construction Chemicals in
the Eastern Cape, says the project is so large-
scaled and intensive that a.b.e. has to be on
site almost weekly.
“The a.b.e. products primarily being sup-
plied to Stefanutti Stocks so far cover a wide
range, including brixeal, plastergrip, duralatex,
and durarep, to name just a few. The contrac-
tors have placed a bulk order with a.b.e. and
we constantly‘topup’the supplies as required,”
Catherine explains.
a.b.e.’s brixeal is a multi-purpose bitumen
emulsion which can, for example, be used as
a waterproofing barrier, or as concrete cur-
ing agent. plastergrip is a blend of synthetic
polymers and additives designed to enhance
the bond of cement screeds or renderings to
concrete surfaces. The company’s duralatex
is a synthetic resin polymer which improves
the qualities of site-batched cementitious
mortars and slurries; while durarep is a rapid-
setting cement-based powder that curtails
water seepages.
“The contractor seems exceptionally
pleased with the performance of the a.b.e.
products, our delivery schedules, and the
relationship we have established with Stefa-
nutti Stocks,”Catherine adds.
For the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital project,
an exceptionally wide range of Chryso SA ad-
mixtures are being used by concrete supplier,
Concrete 4U, to enhance the performance of
the concrete it provides to Stefanutti Stocks.
Patrick Flannigan, commercial sales man-
ager for Chryso SA in the Eastern Cape, says
ChrysoPlast Omega 135, ChrysoAir 7, Chrys-
oStab 2, and ChrysoTard CE, are among the
admixtures being supplied.
“ChrysoPlast Omega 135 is one of Chryso’s
acclaimed ‘New Generation’plasticisers and –
for this project – is an important component
of the concretemixture to compensate for the
indifferent quality of aggregates available in
the area. The admixture also helps maintain
workability while placing the concrete, and
helps to reduce the water content of the mix,
minimising shrinkage, and improving the
rheology of the concrete,”Flannigan states.
ChrysoAir 7 is an air-entraining admixture
for mortar which improves workability, and
also minimises segregation in pre-mixed
mortars. Two Chryso SA retarders are being
used by Concrete 4U: ChrysoStab 2 for mortar
applications, and ChrysoTard CE to delay the
setting time of concrete.
Extensive range of products for Eastern
Cape Hospital project
“Chryso SA is also supplying the environmen-
tally-friendly concrete stripper, Barracuda, that
we distribute in South Africa to Stefanutti
Stocks/CMH as an eco-friendly alternative
to hydrochloric acid for cleaning concrete
moulds and shutters.
“Barracuda – part of the Syntech range of
‘green’acids - is a non-corrosive stripper with
the capacity to dissolve almost 15% more
concrete than hydrochloric acid. It can also
be used to clean stains and efflorescence on
bricks and is totally safe for humans, animals
and plant life,”Flannigan explains.
Stefanutti Stocks/CMH is also using the
Chryso curing agent, ChrysoCure Acrylic, to
expedite the concrete curing process at the
Cecilia Makiwane Hospital. The architects for
the project areTheHospital DesignGroup and
Raleigh KeatingArchitects; and the consulting
engineers, UWP.
●
An aerial view of work in progress on the new section of the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital at Mdantsane.
Now being built by the Stefanutti Stocks/CMH Joint Venture, it is one of the largest current
construction projects in the Eastern Cape.
