MC-Bauchemie Centrament Flow 320
MC-Bauchemie’s third-generation polycarboxylate ether superplasticiser for high-strength, self-compacting and long-transit ready-mix concrete.
What is it?
A high-range, third-generation polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticising admixture from MC-Bauchemie, engineered for very low water-cement ratios without loss of workability.
Where is it used?
High-rise core walls and columns, self-compacting concrete in congested sections, precast prestressed elements, bridge decks and long-haul ready-mix supply across India.
Why use it?
Cuts mixing water by 25-35% at constant slump, holds workability for 60-120 minutes and carries nil chloride, so it suits reinforced, prestressed and post-tensioned work.
How is it applied?
Dosed at the batching plant into the mixing water at 0.8-2.0% by mass of cementitious material, then trial-adjusted to the target grade and transit time.
About MC-Bauchemie Centrament Flow 320
Centrament Flow 320 sits at the top of MC-Bauchemie’s water-reducing admixture range. It is a third-generation superplasticiser built on polycarboxylate ether (PCE) chemistry, the polymer family that replaced older naphthalene and melamine sulphonates in demanding concrete work. What separates a product like this from a general-purpose plasticiser is the sheer water reduction it makes possible: at a held slump, it lets you strip 25 to 35 percent of the mixing water out of the mix while the concrete still flows and consolidates the way the site expects. That translates directly into denser, stronger, lower-permeability concrete, which is exactly what high-strength and durability-critical structures are specified for.
For engineers and ready-mix producers working across Delhi NCR and the wider country, the practical draw is workability that lasts. Centrament Flow 320 is formulated to maintain target slump for roughly 60 to 120 minutes, so a load can leave the plant, sit in traffic and still be placeable and pumpable on arrival. It carries no added chloride, which keeps it safe for reinforced, prestressed and post-tensioned concrete, and it complies with ASTM C494 Type F and IS 9103 Type 5. Space Arc Engineering supplies it as an authorised MC-Bauchemie project distributor, with trial-mix and dosage support so the admixture is matched to your cement, your grade and your haul time rather than dropped in blind.
The technical insight
The performance comes down to how the PCE molecule attaches to and shields cement grains. Each polymer has a backbone that anchors onto the cement particle and long polyethylene-oxide (PEO) side chains that project outward. Those side chains create a physical steric barrier: freshly wetted cement particles that would otherwise clump together are held apart, releasing the water trapped in those flocs back into the mix as free, lubricating water. That is why a very low water-cement ratio can still behave like a fluid mix. Centrament Flow 320 uses longer side chains and a higher graft density than a standard PCE, which deepens that steric effect and, crucially, slows the adsorption so fresh polymer keeps coming into play over time rather than all at once. That staggered, sustained dispersion is what delivers the extended slump life, and because the mechanism is physical separation rather than a chemical reaction with the hydration process, set time is barely affected, with only about a 0.5 to 1.0 hour extension at normal dosage.
Where it is used
- High-strength concrete for high-rise building core walls, shear walls and heavily loaded columns
- Self-compacting concrete (SCC) for densely reinforced sections that cannot be effectively vibrated
- Long-distance ready-mix supply where extended transit times demand sustained workability
- High-performance bridge-deck and marine concrete in aggressive exposure classes (XD3/XS3)
- Precast and prestressed beam, girder and slab production requiring high early and final strength
- High-density industrial floor slabs and heavy-duty pavements
- Water-retaining and durability-critical structures where low permeability is specified
- Pumped concrete over long horizontal or vertical distances
Key advantages
- High water reduction of 25-35% at constant slump for denser, stronger, lower-permeability concrete
- Extended slump retention of 60-120 minutes to cover batching, transit and placement
- Nil chloride content, safe for reinforced, prestressed and post-tensioned concrete
- Enables very low water-cement ratios needed for C50-C80 (M50-M80) high-strength grades
- Excellent flow and self-levelling for SCC without segregation when correctly proportioned
- Minimal effect on set time, so pour scheduling and finishing are not disrupted
- Compliant with ASTM C494 Type F and IS 9103 Type 5 for specification and QA sign-off
- Improved cohesion and pumpability that reduces bleed and blockage on long delivery lines
Limitations & considerations
- Requires trial mixes with the project’s actual cement and aggregates; performance shifts with binder chemistry and fines content
- Overdosing can cause segregation, bleeding, excessive retardation or a sticky, hard-to-finish mix
- Sensitive to water-content variation; unaccounted moisture in aggregates can push the mix past target flow
- Slump-retention behaviour depends on ambient temperature and cement reactivity, so hot-weather trials are essential
- It is a water reducer, not an air-entrainer or a waterproofing admixture, and does not replace those functions
- Not interchangeable with older naphthalene-based plasticisers on a like-for-like dosage basis
Selection & best practice
Add Centrament Flow 320 to the mixing water at the batching plant rather than dosing dry cement, and never simply substitute it for a previous admixture without a fresh trial. Start within the 0.8-2.0% range by mass of cementitious material (800-2000 mL per 100 kg of cement) and fine-tune against your target grade, cement type and required transit time. Account for the free moisture in your aggregates before setting the water addition, because this admixture makes the mix highly responsive to small water changes. Run hot-weather trials separately, since ambient temperature affects both slump life and set. Keep the drum turning during long hauls, and for SCC verify flow and stability with slump-flow and, where specified, V-funnel or J-ring checks. Store the product in a cool, shaded area, keep containers sealed and protect from frost. Space Arc’s technical team can support the initial trial-mix design.
Specifications
| Chemistry | Third-generation polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticiser |
| Standards | ASTM C494 Type F; IS 9103 Type 5 |
| Water reduction | 25-35% at constant slump vs. reference concrete |
| Slump retention | 60-120 minutes of maintained target slump |
| Recommended dosage | 0.8-2.0% by mass of cementitious (800-2000 mL / 100 kg cement) |
| Effect on set time | Minimal; approx. 0.5-1.0 hour extension at standard dosage |
| Chloride content | Nil |
| Suitable concrete grades | C35-C80 (M40-M80); primary use C50-C80 |
Industry use cases
High-Rise Construction
Delivers the very low water-cement ratios and high strengths required for core walls, shear walls and loaded columns in tall buildings, while keeping the mix pumpable to height.
Ready-Mix Concrete
Sustained slump life of up to two hours lets RMC producers batch, transport through city traffic and place high-grade concrete on distant sites without re-tempering.
Precast & Prestressed
High water reduction supports the early and final strengths precast yards need for fast de-moulding and safe stressing of beams, girders and slabs.
Infrastructure & Bridges
Produces dense, low-permeability high-performance concrete for bridge decks and marine structures exposed to chlorides and de-icing salts (XD3/XS3).
Industrial Flooring
Enables high-density, low-shrinkage concrete for heavy-duty floor slabs and pavements that must carry sustained mechanical loads.
Frequently asked questions
What dosage of Centrament Flow 320 should I use?
How much water can it actually save?
Is it safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete?
How long will the concrete stay workable?
Which standards does it comply with?
Does it delay setting or affect finishing?
How we position MC-Bauchemie Centrament Flow 320
Centrament Flow 320 is MC-Bauchemie’s premium PCE superplasticiser for the most demanding high-strength and self-compacting work. Within the same MC-Bauchemie admixture family, pair it with an integral waterproofing admixture such as Centrament Proof for water-retaining structures, or a grouting aid where cementitious grouting accompanies the pour. For projects standardised on Fosroc, the closest equivalent in our range is Fosroc Auramix 400, an advanced PCE superplasticiser we also stock. Where the specification calls for a straightforward mid-range water reducer rather than a high-range PCE, a naphthalene-based plasticiser is the more economical choice. As a multi-brand distributor, Space Arc can match the admixture to the specification rather than the label, and our technical team supports trial-mix design across the MC-Bauchemie, Fosroc and Sika ranges.
Fosroc Auramix 400 — Specifiers standardised on Fosroc for their concrete admixtures can choose Auramix 400, a comparable high-range PCE superplasticiser, to keep the whole mix within one approved brand system.
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