Fosroc Auracast 480 LR
A long-retention polycarboxylate ether superplasticiser engineered for ready-mix, high-rise pumped and self-compacting concrete that must stay workable from the batching plant to the pour.
What is it?
A polycarboxylate-polymer (PCE) based high-range water-reducing superplasticiser from Fosroc’s Auracast range. The ‘LR’ denotes its long-retention behaviour – it holds workability for roughly 2-3 hours, extendable to about 4 hours when combined with the Cebex 311 retarder.
Where is it used?
Commercial and ready-mix concrete batching plants supplying high-rise structures, pumped concrete, self-compacting concrete (SCC) and high-strength low water-cement-ratio mixes – typically slump classes S3 to SF3.
Why use it?
It delivers high water reduction while keeping fresh concrete fluid during long transit and placement windows, so RMC plants can dispatch over distance and contractors can pump to height without re-tempering, segregation or bleeding.
How is it applied?
Dosed at the batching plant into the gauging/mixing water (never onto dry cement), trial-optimised on the actual mix, then batched, transported, pumped and placed within the retained workability window.
About Fosroc Auracast 480 LR
Fosroc Auracast 480 LR is a next-generation concrete admixture built around a carefully balanced combination of polycarboxylate ether (PCE) polymers. It sits in Fosroc’s Auracast family – the company’s premium superplasticiser line aimed squarely at the ready-mix and precast industries – and the “480 LR” designation positions it as a long-retention variant tuned for the realities of Indian commercial concrete supply: long haul distances, summer ambient temperatures, queueing at site, and the need to pump fresh concrete many storeys up without it stiffening.
In simple terms, the product does two jobs at once. First, it is a high-range water reducer: by dispersing cement grains electrostatically and sterically, it lets a producer achieve the same workability at a much lower water content, which is the single most direct lever on strength, durability and shrinkage. Second, and this is where the LR grade earns its name, it carries built-in workability retention. Where a conventional superplasticiser can lose slump within 30-45 minutes, Auracast 480 LR is formulated to hold a usable, cohesive consistency for roughly two to three hours, and that window can be pushed out to around four hours when it is paired with Fosroc’s Cebex 311 retarder for very long hauls or hot-weather pours.
For a Delhi-NCR or pan-India ready-mix operation, that retention is the difference between a clean single placement and a load that arrives at site already going off. Auracast 480 LR is described by Fosroc as relatively insensitive to fluctuations in aggregate moisture and to variations between cement sources – a practical advantage on Indian sites where sand moisture swings batch to batch and OPC/PPC/PSC supply is rarely constant. It is equally at home producing flowing, self-compacting concrete (SCC) without the bleeding and segregation that plague poorly dosed mixes, and producing dense, low-w/c structural concrete where every litre of water saved counts.
As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator, Space Arc Engineering supplies Auracast 480 LR to RMC plants, infrastructure contractors and precast yards across the NCR and nationally, alongside the technical support needed to trial and lock in a dosage on each specific mix design.
The technical insight
The performance comes from polycarboxylate ether chemistry rather than the older naphthalene (SNF) or melamine (SMF) or lignosulphonate systems. A PCE molecule has a charged backbone that adsorbs onto the cement particle and long polyether side chains that project outward; these side chains create steric (physical) repulsion between grains on top of the electrostatic charge. That dual mechanism gives far higher water reduction at lower dosage than a sulphonated naphthalene plasticiser, and – critically for the LR grade – the polymer architecture can be designed so that side chains continue to become active over time, which is what sustains slump rather than letting it collapse. The result is a low-viscosity, highly fluid concrete (important for pumpability and for filling congested reinforcement) that still resists segregation. Because PCE is so efficient, dosing is sensitive: there is a relatively narrow optimum, and overdosing tends to show up as retardation or bleeding rather than as more slump, so a plant trial on the job’s own materials is non-negotiable before production dosing. Like the rest of the Auracast PCE range, it is supplied as a chloride-free liquid, so it is suitable for reinforced and prestressed concrete without introducing a corrosion risk. Always treat the country-specific Fosroc datasheet supplied with the consignment as the binding source for the exact specific gravity, dosage envelope and ASTM/EN classification, since these are set per region.
Where it is used
- Ready-mix concrete (RMC) requiring long transit and on-site retention before placement
- High-rise building concrete that must be pumped to significant height without loss of workability
- Self-compacting concrete (SCC) for congested reinforcement, architectural and precast elements
- High-strength, low water-cement-ratio structural concrete (columns, cores, transfer slabs)
- Hot-weather concreting where extended workability is needed, used with Cebex 311 for ~4 hour retention
- Flowing concrete in slump classes S3 to SF3 where cohesion and pumpability both matter
- Infrastructure and commercial pours where consistent slump across a fleet of transit mixers is required
Key advantages
- High water reduction, enabling lower w/c ratio for greater strength and durability at target workability
- Long workability retention of around 2-3 hours, extendable to ~4 hours with Cebex 311
- Low-viscosity, highly flowable concrete that pumps easily and fills congested formwork
- Produces cohesive SCC without bleeding or segregation
- Tolerant of aggregate moisture fluctuation and cement-source variation – more forgiving on real Indian sites
- Chloride-free, so safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete
- Reduces the need for re-tempering with water at site, protecting strength and finish
- Backed by Fosroc technical data, DoP documentation and local applicator support through Space Arc
Limitations & considerations
- PCE admixtures are dosage-sensitive; overdosing can cause excessive retardation, bleeding or segregation, so plant trials are essential
- Optimum dosage and exact specific gravity are region/datasheet specific and must be confirmed against the supplied Fosroc TDS
- Compatibility with the specific cement and supplementary cementitious materials should be verified – PCE/cement incompatibility can occur with some sources
- Long retention means slower early stiffening; for very fast precast demoulding cycles a high-early-strength grade (e.g. Auracast 270M) may suit better
- A liquid admixture – requires correct storage, protection from freezing/extreme heat, and stirring if separation occurs
- It reduces water demand and improves workability but is not a waterproofing, curing or set-accelerating product; pair with the right complementary Fosroc systems
- Performance assumes sound mix design and good site practice; it cannot rescue a fundamentally deficient mix
Selection & best practice
Always run a laboratory and plant trial on the project’s actual cement, SCMs, sand and aggregate before fixing a production dosage – establish the dose that gives the target slump/flow and required retention, then hold it. Add Auracast 480 LR to the gauging water or with the final portion of mixing water; never batch it onto dry cement or dry aggregate, and do not pre-mix it with other admixtures unless Fosroc confirms compatibility. For long hauls or hot-weather pours, dose with Cebex 311 to extend retention toward four hours rather than over-dosing the superplasticiser. Avoid the temptation to re-temper with site water – it defeats the purpose of the low w/c ratio. Confirm all numeric limits (SG, dosage, chloride class, ASTM/EN type) against the country-specific datasheet shipped with the batch, store the drums sealed and out of direct sun, and consult Space Arc’s technical team for mix optimisation and Fosroc complementary-product selection.
Specifications
| Product type | High-range water-reducing superplasticiser (long-retention grade) |
| Chemical base | Polycarboxylate ether (PCE) polymer blend |
| Physical form | Liquid admixture (batched into mixing water) |
| Workability retention | Approx. 2-3 hours; up to ~4 hours with Cebex 311 retarder |
| Target consistency range | Slump classes S3 to SF3 (incl. self-compacting concrete) |
| Chloride content | Chloride-free (suitable for reinforced/prestressed concrete) |
| Primary concrete type | Ready-mix, high-rise pumped, SCC, high-strength low-w/c concrete |
| Key complementary product | Cebex 311 (retarder) for extended retention |
| Specific gravity / exact dosage | Per country-specific Fosroc datasheet – confirm before production dosing |
| Documentation | Fosroc product datasheet, SDS and Declaration of Performance (DoP) available by region |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC)
Plants supplying metro and NCR projects use Auracast 480 LR to dispatch concrete over long distances and through traffic while it stays workable, eliminating site re-tempering and rejected loads.
High-Rise & Commercial Construction
Enables pumping of cohesive, low-viscosity concrete to upper floors of towers without slump loss, supporting continuous placement of columns, cores and slabs.
Infrastructure
Bridges, flyovers and large foundation pours benefit from the long retention across a fleet of transit mixers, keeping a consistent placement window for big continuous pours.
Self-Compacting & Architectural Concrete
Produces flowing, segregation-resistant SCC that fills congested reinforcement and complex formwork to give a clean, blemish-free surface finish.
Precast & High-Strength Elements
Used where a low water-cement ratio is needed for high strength and durability, with the LR retention suiting longer casting cycles (faster-demould jobs may prefer a high-early grade).
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘LR’ mean in Auracast 480 LR?
What type of admixture is Auracast 480 LR?
What dosage should I use?
Is it suitable for reinforced and prestressed concrete?
Can it be used to make self-compacting concrete (SCC)?
How is it different from older superplasticisers like Conplast SP430?
How we position Fosroc Auracast 480 LR
Within the Fosroc range, Auracast 480 LR is the long-retention ready-mix specialist. It sits beside other Auracast PCE superplasticisers such as Auracast 280 and Auracast 405 (precast and high-performance SCC grades) and Auracast 270M (a high-early-strength grade better suited to fast precast demoulding), and it is commonly paired with the Cebex 311 retarder to push retention out to about four hours for long hauls. Where a project needs an older-technology, value water reducer rather than a premium PCE, Fosroc’s own Conplast SP430 (SNF-based superplasticiser) or Conplast plasticiser grades remain the reference points. Against the broader market, the direct competitors a consultant would weigh are Sika’s ViscoCrete PCE superplasticisers, BASF/Master Builders Solutions (MasterGlenium PCE range), and the admixture lines from MBCC and regional players – all of which offer comparable long-retention PCE products. Dr. Fixit and STP (Pidilite) are strong, credible names in waterproofing, repair and surface treatments but are not the primary reference for high-range PCE superplasticisers, so for that specific duty the realistic shortlist is Fosroc Auracast versus Sika ViscoCrete versus Master Builders MasterGlenium. As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator in Delhi NCR and pan-India, Space Arc Engineering’s recommendation is to choose the Auracast grade by application – 480 LR for long-retention ready-mix and pumped work – and to validate dosage and cement compatibility through a plant trial before committing to production.
Related Concrete Admixtures products
Source Fosroc Auracast 480 LR for your project
Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.