MC-Bauchemie Centrament Plast 800
A lignosulfonate-based normal water-reducing admixture from MC-Bauchemie that lifts workability and trims water demand without changing the mix design you already trust.
What is it?
A liquid plasticiser built on sulfonated lignosulfonates, classified as IS 9103 Type B and ASTM C494 Type A/B, for everyday concrete and mortar.
Where is it used?
Ready-mix plants, site-batched pours, pumped and precast concrete, mass pours and cement plaster where good flow and controlled water are needed.
Why use it?
It reduces mixing water by 5-10% at normal dosage, so you either raise strength and durability or gain slump without adding more water.
How is it applied?
Dispensed into the mix water or added during batching at 0.2-0.5% by mass of cement (200-500 ml per 100 kg), then mixed to a uniform, cohesive consistency.
About MC-Bauchemie Centrament Plast 800
Centrament Plast 800 sits in the workhorse tier of MC-Bauchemie’s admixture range: a dependable, general-purpose water-reducing plasticiser rather than a high-range performer. It is formulated from sulfonated lignosulfonates, natural polymers recovered as a by-product of paper manufacture, which makes it an economical choice for the large volumes of ordinary-grade concrete and mortar that dominate most Indian projects. For the RMC plant running M20 to M35 all day, or the site engineer chasing consistent slump across a plaster contract, it does the unglamorous but essential job of keeping water in check while keeping the mix easy to place.
What earns it a place in a batching schedule is predictability. It conforms to IS 9103 as a Type B admixture and to ASTM C494 as a Type A/B product, it carries a chloride-free formulation that is safe for reinforced and prestressed work, and it behaves the same way batch after batch across OPC, PPC and PSC cements. There is no exotic chemistry to manage and no steep learning curve. As an authorised MC-Bauchemie channel partner across Delhi NCR and Pan-India, Space Arc supplies it to contractors, ready-mix producers and precast yards who want a reliable normal-range plasticiser they can standardise on.
The technical insight
The chemistry works by dispersion. Freshly mixed cement grains carry surface charges that pull them into loose flocs, and those flocs trap pockets of mixing water that would otherwise lubricate the paste. Lignosulfonate molecules adsorb onto the cement particles and coat them with a like-charged film, so the grains repel each other rather than clump. That single action releases the trapped water and separates the particles, which is why the same mix suddenly flows more freely. Because the water is now doing useful work as lubrication, you can pull 5-10% of it back out at equal slump and hold the workability you started with. Taking that water out lowers the water-cement ratio by roughly 0.03-0.06, and a tighter ratio means a denser, less permeable matrix that gains strength and resists ingress better once cured. Lignosulfonates also mildly slow early hydration, extending set by about 30-90 minutes at normal dosage around 23 C, which is often welcome in warm-weather placing and pumped work where a little extra open time protects the pour.
Where it is used
- Ready-mix concrete production requiring consistent slump and controlled water content
- Site-batched structural concrete for slabs, columns, beams and foundations
- Pumped concrete where improved flow reduces line pressure and blockages
- Precast and prestressed elements needing a chloride-free water reducer
- Mass concrete pours where mild retardation helps manage heat and placing time
- Cement mortar and plaster for smoother application and better workability
- General M20-M35 grade concrete where economy and reliability matter
- Warm-weather concreting that benefits from a modest extension of set time
Key advantages
- Reduces mixing water by 5-10% at normal dosage for higher strength or better flow
- Chloride-free, so it is safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete
- Lowers water-cement ratio by 0.03-0.06 for denser, more durable concrete
- Compatible with OPC, PPC and PSC cements without redesigning the mix
- Economical lignosulfonate base suited to large volumes of ordinary-grade work
- Mild retardation of 30-90 minutes aids placing in warm conditions
- Improves cohesion and reduces the tendency to segregate and bleed
- Conforms to IS 9103 Type B and ASTM C494 Type A/B for specification compliance
Limitations & considerations
- A normal-range plasticiser, not a superplasticiser; it cannot deliver the high water reduction or very high slump of a PCE product
- Water reduction of 5-10% is modest, so it is not the right tool for high-strength or self-compacting concrete
- The set retardation can be pronounced at higher dosages or lower temperatures, delaying finishing
- Overdosing can cause excessive retardation, bleeding or slump beyond what the mix can carry
- Slump retention is limited, so long haul or hold times may need a mix designed around that
- Trial mixes are needed to fix the exact dosage for each cement, aggregate and grade combination
Selection & best practice
Always establish the working dosage with site trial mixes rather than defaulting to the middle of the 0.2-0.5% range, because the right figure shifts with cement type, ambient temperature and target slump. Add Centrament Plast 800 to the mixing water or introduce it with the water during batching; avoid dosing it onto dry cement or aggregate, where it cannot disperse evenly. Never exceed the recommended dosage in an attempt to gain more slump, as the main penalty of a lignosulfonate is over-retardation and bleeding rather than better flow. Keep dispensing equipment calibrated, mix long enough to distribute the admixture fully, and if you are combining it with an air-entrainer or another admixture, verify compatibility on a trial batch first. Store the drums sealed, off the ground and out of direct sun, and protect from frost.
Specifications
| Product type | Normal water-reducing plasticiser (admixture) |
| Base chemistry | Sulfonated lignosulfonates |
| Standards classification | IS 9103 Type B; ASTM C494 Type A/B |
| Recommended dosage | 0.2-0.5% by mass of cement (200-500 ml per 100 kg cement) |
| Water reduction | 5-10% at normal dosage |
| Effect on water-cement ratio | Reduction of approximately 0.03-0.06 |
| Effect on setting | Mild retardation, set extended by 30-90 minutes at normal dosage (23 C) |
| Chloride content | Chloride-free |
| Cement compatibility | OPC, PPC and PSC |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mix Concrete
RMC plants use it to hold consistent slump across M20-M35 loads while trimming water, improving strength margins without reworking the mix design.
Pumped Concrete
On high-rise and long-line pours the improved flow eases pumping pressure and reduces blockage risk, with mild retardation giving useful open time.
Precast Yards
Its chloride-free formulation suits reinforced and prestressed elements, delivering a workable, cohesive mix for clean casting and good surface finish.
Mass Concrete
In rafts and large sections the modest set delay helps manage placing sequence and heat build-up during warm-weather pours.
Plaster and Mortar
Contractors add it to cement plaster and mortar for smoother application, better cohesion and reduced water demand on finishing works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Centrament Plast 800 a superplasticiser?
What dosage should I use?
Is it safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete?
Will it delay my setting and finishing times?
Which cements does it work with?
Does Space Arc supply it Pan-India and can you advise on dosage?
How we position MC-Bauchemie Centrament Plast 800
Centrament Plast 800 is MC-Bauchemie’s answer for everyday, cost-sensitive water reduction; when a project needs higher water reduction, longer slump retention or high-strength and self-compacting mixes, step up within the same family to MC-Bauchemie’s superplasticiser range (the Centrament and MC-PowerFlow PCE-based lines). If you need controlled set extension for long hauls or hot-weather mass pours, pair it with a dedicated retarder rather than pushing this product past its dosage. Across our other brands, engineers often specify equivalent lignosulfonate plasticisers such as Fosroc Conplast P211 or Sika Plastiment, and move up to Fosroc Auramix or Sika ViscoCrete PCE superplasticisers where performance demands it. Our team can map your grade and placing method to the right product.
Fosroc Conplast P211 — Specify the Fosroc option when the project or client mandates Fosroc-approved materials, as Conplast P211 is a directly equivalent chloride-free lignosulphonate plasticiser conforming to the same IS 9103 and ASTM C494 standards.
Related Concrete Admixtures products
Source MC-Bauchemie Centrament Plast 800 for your project
Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.