Fosroc Auramix 480LR
Chloride-free PCE comb-polymer superplasticiser for self-compacting and high-rise pumped concrete, with robust 2-3 hour workability retention across S3 to SF3 consistency classes.
What is it?
A high-range water-reducing concrete superplasticiser based on a polycarboxylic-ether (PCE) comb-polymer, formulated for self-compacting concrete (SCC) and high-rise pumped mixes that need flow, stability and extended workability retention.
Where is it used?
Ready-mix and site-batched structural concrete: high-rise columns and cores, long-line and architectural precast, basement rafts, transfer slabs and any SCC or pumped pour using high GGBS/PFA replacement levels.
Why use it?
It delivers high water reduction and high early strength while holding workability for roughly 2-3 hours (extendable with a retarder), producing low-viscosity, non-bleeding, non-segregating concrete that pumps to height and self-levels in congested reinforcement.
How is it applied?
Dispensed into the concrete at the batching plant as part of the gauging water or added to the wet mix, at a trial-established dosage by weight of total cementitious content; never added to dry cement or aggregate.
About Fosroc Auramix 480LR
Fosroc Auramix 480LR is a new-generation, chloride-free superplasticising admixture from the Auramix family, the range Fosroc positions for high-performance and self-compacting concrete. Like its Auramix siblings, it is built on polycarboxylic-ether (PCE) “comb” polymers – molecules with a charged backbone and long lateral side-chains that combine electrostatic and steric (physical spacing) dispersion. This dual mechanism separates cement grains far more effectively than older sulphonated naphthalene (SNF) plasticisers, releasing trapped mixing water so the same flow can be achieved at a much lower water-cement ratio, or far higher flow can be achieved at the same water content. The “LR” designation reflects its tuned workability-retention character: Fosroc describes it as designed for applications needing mid-to-high workability with 2-3 hour retention, extendable to around 4 hours by adding the retarder Cebex 311. For Indian contractors and ready-mix producers, the practical appeal is a single admixture that delivers both the water reduction needed for strength and durability and the slump-life needed for long haul-and-pump cycles in city traffic. Fosroc explicitly markets the 480LR for high-rise and pumped concrete and for producing self-compacting concrete without bleeding or segregation, across a wide consistency band from S3 (medium slump) up to SF3 (high slump-flow SCC). It is notably strong in mixes with high replacement levels of GGBS (ground granulated blast-furnace slag) or PFA/fly ash, which matters increasingly as the Indian industry moves to blended, lower-carbon cements. Being chloride-free, it is suitable for all reinforced and prestressed concrete. Auramix 480LR appears in Fosroc’s global/European catalogue (it carries a UKCA Declaration of Performance), so exact regional pack sizes and uniformity values should be confirmed against the Material Test Certificate (MTC) issued for your supply.
The technical insight
The performance signature of Auramix 480LR is “low-viscosity flow.” Many high-water-reduction PCEs achieve flowability at the cost of a sticky, high-plastic-viscosity mix that is hard to pump and place – a real problem in tall pours and SCC. The 480LR polymer architecture is engineered so that you get high slump-flow and self-levelling consistency while keeping plastic viscosity low, which is why Fosroc highlights it as “low viscosity, easy to apply” and suitable for pumping to height. Crucially, the side-chain chemistry is tolerant of supplementary cementitious materials: with high GGBS or PFA contents, ordinary admixtures can lose grip and cause slump collapse or bleed, whereas the 480LR is formulated to hold dispersion and consistency in those blended systems. The retention behaviour is a controlled time-release of dispersing action rather than simple set retardation, so you preserve slump-flow for the haul and the pump without unduly delaying strength gain – and where a longer window is needed, Cebex 311 extends it. In SCC specifically, the goal is the narrow window between flow and segregation; the 480LR is tuned to hold a stable, non-segregating, non-bleeding consistency, and on segregation-prone SCC mixes it is typically paired with a viscosity-modifying admixture such as Fosroc Auramix V200.
Where it is used
- Self-compacting concrete (SCC) for heavily reinforced sections, architectural finishes and inaccessible formwork
- High-rise column, shear-wall and core concrete pumped to significant heights
- Pumped structural concrete for ready-mix supply over long haul-and-place cycles
- High-strength, low water-cement-ratio mixes for transfer slabs, rafts and high-grade structural members
- Blended-cement concrete with high GGBS or PFA/fly-ash replacement levels
- Precast and prestressed elements requiring high early strength and clean de-moulded finishes
- Free-flowing, low-fines structural concrete across S3 to SF3 consistency classes
Key advantages
- Chloride-free, so safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete with embedded steel
- High water reduction supports higher strength and improved durability at lower w/c ratio
- Robust 2-3 hour workability retention (extendable to ~4 hours with Cebex 311) suits long transit and pump cycles
- Low plastic viscosity gives flowable, easy-to-pump, easy-to-place concrete
- Excellent performance at high GGBS/PFA replacement – well suited to blended, lower-carbon cements
- Produces stable SCC with high flow and no bleeding or segregation
- Wide consistency coverage (S3 to SF3) from one admixture, simplifying mix portfolios
- Strong early and ultimate strength development for faster precast cycles and stripping
Limitations & considerations
- Overdosing can cause set retardation and segregation; dosage must be trial-established for the specific mix
- PCE admixtures are sensitive to changes in cement/SCM chemistry, fines and sand grading – retrial when materials change
- Effective SCC usually needs a stable aggregate grading and may require a separate viscosity-modifying admixture (e.g. Auramix V200)
- Should not be mixed with admixtures of a different chemical base (e.g. SNF/lignosulphonate) without compatibility checks
- Exact specific gravity, dosage band and pack sizes vary by region and configuration – confirm against the supply MTC/TDS
- Premium PCE pricing relative to conventional plasticisers; value is realised mainly in demanding SCC/high-rise/blended mixes
- Not added to dry materials – must be dispensed into the gauging water or wet mix at the plant
Selection & best practice
Always establish the optimum dosage by laboratory and full-scale batch trials using the actual cement, GGBS/PFA, aggregates and sand to be used on site – PCE response is mix-specific. Add Auramix 480LR to the gauging water or to the wet concrete after the bulk of the water, never to dry cement or aggregate, and avoid double-dosing without checking total addition. For SCC, validate slump-flow, T500, J-ring/L-box and visual stability against the target consistency class, and pair with Auramix V200 if the mix shows any tendency to bleed or segregate. Where transit or pumping demands more than the standard 2-3 hour window, extend retention with Cebex 311 rather than overdosing the superplasticiser. Maintain a tight, consistent w/c ratio and sand grading; verify chloride-free and uniformity values against the batch MTC for QA records; and store drums sealed at 20-50 degrees C, using within the stated shelf life.
Specifications
| Product type | High-range water-reducing superplasticiser (concrete admixture) |
| Chemical base | Polycarboxylic ether (PCE) comb-polymer with long lateral side-chains |
| Primary function | High water reduction + workability retention for SCC and pumped concrete |
| Chloride content | Chloride-free (suitable for reinforced/prestressed concrete) |
| Workability retention | ~2-3 hours; extendable to ~4 hours with Cebex 311 retarder |
| Consistency range | S3 (medium slump) to SF3 (high slump-flow / SCC) |
| SCM compatibility | Suited to high GGBS / PFA (fly ash) replacement levels |
| Appearance | Liquid admixture (confirm exact colour against regional MTC; Auramix-range PCEs are typically light-yellow to light-brown liquids) |
| Specific gravity | Confirm against regional MTC (comparable Auramix PCE grades sit ~1.03-1.11 kg/litre) |
| Typical dosage | Trial-determined by weight of total cementitious content (comparable Auramix PCEs ~0.5-2.5 kg/100 kg binder) |
| Standards | UKCA Declaration of Performance published; confirm IS 9103 / EN 934-2 / ASTM C494 conformity for the regional supply |
| Storage | Sealed drums, 20-50 degrees C; use within stated shelf life (Auramix range typically 12 months minimum) |
| Related Fosroc products | Auramix V200 (VMA), Cebex 311 (retarder), Auramix 200/400/450 (PCE range) |
Industry use cases
High-rise / commercial towers
Pumped column and core concrete that must hold flow through a tall delivery line while reaching high early and ultimate strengths for fast floor cycles.
Ready-mix concrete (RMC) producers
Long-haul urban deliveries in Delhi NCR traffic where 2-3 hour slump retention prevents site rejections and re-tempering, with low-viscosity mixes that pump cleanly.
Precast & prestressed yards
Self-compacting, high-early-strength mixes for congested-reinforcement and architectural units, giving clean de-moulded faces and quicker stripping.
Infrastructure & blended-cement concrete
High-GGBS/PFA structural concrete for rafts, transfer slabs and substructures, where the admixture maintains dispersion and consistency in low-clinker, lower-carbon mixes.
Architectural / SCC finishes
Self-compacting concrete for exposed and complex-geometry elements requiring full form-filling without vibration, bleeding or segregation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fosroc Auramix 480LR a real product, and what is it?
What concrete is Auramix 480LR best suited for?
What is the dosage and how should it be added?
Is it chloride-free and safe for reinforced concrete?
How long does it keep concrete workable, and can that be extended?
How does it compare with other admixtures and what pairs with it?
How we position Fosroc Auramix 480LR
Auramix 480LR sits in the upper tier of Fosroc’s PCE Auramix range, oriented specifically toward self-compacting and high-rise pumped concrete where both high water reduction and 2-3 hour workability retention are needed at once. Within the Fosroc system it is naturally specified alongside Auramix V200 (a viscosity-modifying admixture that stabilises segregation-prone SCC) and Cebex 311 (the retarder Fosroc cites for extending retention), and it complements the broader Auramix 200/400/450 grades that the same producers already use for general structural and high-performance concrete. Against the wider market, it competes with PCE superplasticisers such as Sika ViscoCrete, Master Builders Solutions (MBS) MasterGlenium, Dr. Fixit (Pidilite) concrete admixtures and STP – all credible alternatives, with selection coming down to mix-specific trial performance, SCM compatibility and local technical support. As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator serving Delhi NCR and Pan-India, Space Arc Engineering supplies genuine Auramix 480LR with batch MTC documentation and provides mix-design and dosage-trial support to match the admixture to your cement, GGBS/PFA and aggregate system. Exact specific gravity, dosage band and pack sizes should be confirmed against the regional TDS/MTC for your supply.
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