STP ShaliPlast PCE 100
Polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer that brings PCE-grade water reduction and early strength to everyday M20-M35 concrete, at an entry-level dosage cost.
What is it?
A light brownish liquid admixture based on polycarboxylate co-polymers in aqueous solution – the entry point of STP’s ShaliPlast PCE range, meant for lower and medium grade concrete, mortar and plaster.
Where is it used?
Ready-mix plants, precast yards and site-batched RCC work producing M20-M35 concrete that needs high workability, faster stripping or reduced permeability.
Why use it?
It delivers the flowability, early strength gain and 10-20% water reduction of PCE chemistry at a dosage economical enough to compete with older SNF admixtures – while staying completely chloride-free.
How is it applied?
Dosed at 0.5-2.0% by weight of cementitious material into the mixing water, never onto dry cement; charge the mix with about 85% of the water first, then add the balance water carrying the admixture and mix 2-3 minutes more.
About STP ShaliPlast PCE 100
ShaliPlast PCE 100 is STP Limited’s workhorse polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer, positioned below PCE 200, 300 and 400 in the same family. Where those grades chase high-strength and long-retention applications, PCE 100 is built for the concrete most Indian sites actually pour – M20 to M35 for housing slabs, commercial framed structures, plinths and pavements. It conforms to IS 9103-1999 and ASTM C494 Type G as a water-reducing admixture, and additionally to IS 2645-2003 as an integral waterproofing compound, which lets one product cover both plasticising and permeability-reduction line items in a BOQ.
For contractors still specifying naphthalene-based (SNF) plasticisers on cost grounds, PCE 100 is the logical upgrade path. At a similar price point per cubic metre of treated concrete, it holds slump noticeably longer in Indian summer temperatures, cuts mixing water further, and gives precasters and slab-cycle contractors earlier stripping strengths. Being free of chlorides, it is safe for reinforced and pre-stressed elements, and it works with all Portland cements including SRC as well as fly ash, GGBS and micro silica blends common in Indian RMC.
The technical insight
The performance difference between PCE 100 and older SNF or lignosulphonate admixtures comes down to how the polymer disperses cement. SNF molecules carry negative charges that make cement grains repel each other electrostatically – an effect that fades quickly as hydration products bury the charge. Polycarboxylate co-polymers work differently: a charged backbone anchors onto the cement grain while long side chains project outward, physically preventing grains from re-agglomerating (steric hindrance). Because the side chains keep working even as early hydrates form, workability survives longer at the same water content. That same efficient dispersion releases water otherwise trapped between flocculated grains, so the mix needs 10-20% less water for the same slump – directly translating into a denser matrix, higher early and ultimate strength, lower permeability and improved shrinkage and creep behaviour.
Where it is used
- Ready-mix concrete production for standard M20-M35 commercial and residential supply
- Precast elements – drain covers, kerbs, compound walls, small structural units – needing early demoulding strength
- Fast-track in-situ concrete where economical stripping times drive the slab cycle
- High-workability and pumped concrete for congested reinforcement and long pump lines
- Plasticising additive for mortars and plasters to improve placing and finish
- Reduced-permeability concrete for basements, sumps and water-retaining works, using its IS 2645 integral waterproofing compliance
- Reinforced and pre-stressed concrete where a strictly chloride-free admixture is specified
- Mixes using PFA, GGBS or micro silica where SNF admixtures struggle to hold slump
Key advantages
- Pronounced early strength development, allowing earlier formwork stripping and faster mould turnover
- High water reduction – typically 10-20% – producing denser, stronger, less permeable concrete
- Strong plasticising action that improves flow, placing and compaction with less vibration effort
- Better cohesion than SNF mixes, reducing segregation and bleeding in high-slump concrete
- Improved shrinkage and creep behaviour from the lower water-cement ratio
- Nil chloride content, safe for reinforced and pre-stressed steel
- Compatible with all Portland cements including SRC, and with fly ash, GGBS and micro silica
- PCE performance at an entry-level dosage cost, easing the switch from naphthalene-based products
Limitations & considerations
- Dosage must be finalised through site trials – slump retention and setting vary with cement brand, mix design and ambient temperature
- Overdosing delays the setting time of concrete; batching discipline is essential
- Designed for lower and medium grades – for M40+ concrete or long-haul retention, step up to ShaliPlast PCE 200/300/400
- Must never contact dry cement; it has to enter the mix through the gauging water
- Flowing concrete exerts higher pressure at the base of wall forms – formwork must be watertight and well braced
- Supplied only in 225 kg barrels, which suits plants and large sites better than small one-off jobs
Selection & best practice
Run a trial mix with your actual cement, aggregates and ambient conditions before fixing the dosage – start near the lower end of the 0.5-2.0% band and adjust for the slump and retention you need. In the mixer, charge all materials with about 85% of the mixing water and blend; then introduce ShaliPlast PCE 100 with the remaining water and mix a further 2-3 minutes until the target slump is reached. Never let the admixture touch dry cement, and never use extra dosage as a fix for poor mix design – overdose will retard setting. Remember that hot weather accelerates slump loss and shortens initial set, so re-verify dosage across seasons. Store barrels shaded, away from sunlight, UV and heat sources, between 5 and 38 degrees C; sealed stock keeps for 12 months.
Specifications
| Composition | Aqueous solution of polycarboxylate co-polymers |
| Form / Colour | Light brownish liquid |
| Density | 1.03 ± 0.03 g/cc (at 27°C, 55% RH) |
| pH | 6 – 8 |
| Chloride content | Nil |
| Dosage | 0.5 – 2.0% by weight of cementitious material; confirm by site trial |
| Standards | IS 9103-1999; ASTM C494 Type G; IS 2645-2003 (integral waterproofing compound) |
| Packaging | 225 kg sealed barrel |
| Shelf life | 12 months unopened, stored at 5-38°C away from heat and sunlight |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mix Concrete
RMC plants supplying M20-M35 to NCR housing and commercial projects use PCE 100 to hold slump through transit without retempering, at a per-cum admixture cost close to SNF.
Residential & Commercial RCC
Framed-structure contractors gain easier pumping and compaction in congested columns and rafts, plus faster slab cycles from the early strength pickup.
Precast Yards
Manufacturers of kerbs, drain covers, boundary walls and small structural precast shorten demoulding times, getting more casts per mould per day.
Basements & Water-Retaining Works
Its IS 2645 compliance and permeability reduction make it a practical integral waterproofing admixture for rafts, sumps and underground tanks in standard grades.
Infrastructure & Pavements
Fast-track works – approach roads, hardstands, boundary infrastructure – benefit from workable, quickly stripping concrete using blended cements with fly ash or GGBS.
Frequently asked questions
What dosage should I start with?
Is ShaliPlast PCE 100 safe for reinforced concrete?
How is it different from SNF-based superplasticizers?
Can I use it with PPC, fly ash or GGBS mixes?
What happens if the dosage is exceeded?
What pack size does it come in, and how long does it keep?
How we position STP ShaliPlast PCE 100
ShaliPlast PCE 100 is the entry point of STP’s PCE family: move to ShaliPlast PCE 200 or PCE 300 when the job demands higher grades or longer slump retention for long hauls, and PCE 400 for high-performance concrete; ShaliPlast CI adds corrosion inhibition for coastal or chloride-exposure structures. Specifiers standardised on Fosroc can achieve the same PCE-class performance with Auramix 400, which we also stock, while Conplast SP430 remains the economical SNF option where PCE is not mandated. Space Arc supplies all three families with technical support for trial mixes.
Fosroc Auramix 400 — Specifiers on Fosroc-approved projects, or mixes needing extended workability retention for self-compacting and long-haul pumped concrete, may prefer Auramix 400 – the same PCE chemistry class with IS 9103 and ASTM C494 Type G compliance.
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