MC-Thix 111
Anti-Washout Admixture for Concrete Placed Underwater and in Flowing Water Conditions
Authorized Project Distributor — MC-Bauchemie India | Space Arc Engineering, Ghaziabad
Product Overview
MC-Thix 111 is a liquid anti-washout (AWA — anti-washout admixture) for concrete placed in contact with water during the placement process — specifically for underwater concrete applications including bored cast-in-situ pile tremie concrete, underwater foundation concrete in cofferdams and caissons, marine structure foundations, river bridge pier foundations, dam construction, and underwater repair works. The fundamental problem with conventional concrete placed underwater is that when fresh concrete contacts flowing or standing water during the placing process (for example, as it exits the tremie pipe and flows to fill the void in a bored pile), cement and fine particles are washed out of the concrete matrix by the mechanical action of the water. This cement washout: significantly reduces the cement content and therefore the strength and durability of the in-place concrete; increases the water-cement ratio of the depleted concrete; and contaminates the surrounding water with cement particles (increasing turbidity and potentially causing environmental harm in water bodies). In severe cases, cement washout from underwater concrete can reduce the 28-day compressive strength of the placed concrete by 30 to 50 percent compared to the mix design, creating an unacceptably weak foundation element. MC-Thix 111 prevents cement washout by imparting cohesion and viscosity to the fresh concrete mix through the addition of a water-soluble cellulose ether or welan gum polymer (the specific polymer type varies by MC-Thix product grade and is given in the current TDS). These polymers increase the viscosity of the mixing water and create a thixotropic gel structure in the cement paste that physically binds the cement particles together and prevents them from being dispersed by water contact. The result is a concrete mix that retains its fresh concrete properties (slump, strength potential, and homogeneity) through the underwater placement process with minimal cement washout, producing an in-place concrete with strength close to the design strength. Space Arc Engineering supplies MC-Thix 111 for piling contractors, foundation engineers, marine construction companies, and bridge infrastructure contractors across Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Uttar Pradesh.
Applications
- Bored cast-in-situ pile tremie concrete — anti-washout for piles placed through water or bentonite slurry
- Underwater foundation concrete in cofferdams and caissons — cement washout prevention in flowing water
- River bridge pier and abutment foundation concrete — concrete placed through moving river water
- Marine and coastal structure foundation concrete — offshore and nearshore foundation elements
- Underwater concrete repair — anti-washout repair mortar for submerged concrete element restoration
- Dam and barrage foundation concrete — mass underwater concrete with anti-washout protection
Key Advantages
- Prevents cement washout — maintains concrete strength, durability, and mix homogeneity during underwater placing
- IS 9103 compliant — anti-washout admixture conforming to Indian standard for concrete admixtures
- Compatible with PCE superplasticisers — use with Centrament Nano 500 for self-compacting underwater concrete
- Thixotropic — concrete is fluid under the energy of tremie placing, but cohesive enough to resist water washout
- Environmental protection — reduces cement particle turbidity in surrounding water during underwater concrete operations
- Minimal effect on setting time — does not significantly extend setting time at standard dose
Technical Data
| Type | Liquid anti-washout admixture — cellulose ether or welan gum polymer — for underwater concrete |
| Dose Range | 0.3 to 0.8 percent by mass of cement — higher dose for faster water flow or longer tremie drop — check TDS |
| Effect on Fresh Concrete | Increases cohesion and viscosity — reduces washout — maintains self-compacting flow with PCE co-addition |
| Effect on Strength | Washout-resistance test: strength of submerged versus unsubmerged cube ratio greater than 0.85 (standard test) |
| Compliance | IS 9103 (Admixtures for Concrete) — ASTM C1240 and CRD-C 661 anti-washout admixture specifications |
| Compatible Admixtures | Use with Centrament Nano 500 PCE for self-compacting underwater concrete — check TDS for dosing sequence |
Get a Quote
+91 9999155255 | info@space-arc.com | Space Arc Engineering, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad
Frequently Asked Questions
For a bored cast-in-situ pile project in Ghaziabad where piles are being drilled through a high water table and the pile bore is stabilised with bentonite slurry, what is the complete concrete mix design and placement procedure using MC-Thix 111 to achieve the required M30 grade 28-day strength in the placed pile concrete?
Bored cast-in-situ pile concrete placed by tremie through a water or bentonite-stabilised bore is one of the most technically demanding concrete applications in foundation engineering, and one where the risk of substandard concrete quality — primarily from cement washout, segregation, or incomplete displacement of the stabilising fluid — is highest. For a piling project in Ghaziabad with a documented high water table (common in the Ganga-Yamuna alluvial plain where much of Ghaziabad and western Uttar Pradesh is located), the complete concrete specification and placement procedure for M30 tremie pile concrete with MC-Thix 111 is as follows. Mix design specification. Target 28-day characteristic compressive strength: M30 (30 MPa characteristic strength, requiring a mean mix design strength of approximately 38 to 40 MPa to account for statistical variability). Water-cement ratio: not exceeding 0.45 (IS 2911 Part 1 Section 2 specifies maximum w/c of 0.45 for cast-in-situ piles in sulphate-bearing or aggressive soils — the Ghaziabad alluvial subsoils in many areas contain moderate sulphate content). Cement content: minimum 400 kg per cubic metre of OPC or Sulphate Resistant Portland Cement (SRPC, IS 6909) for aggressive soil conditions — higher cement content increases the paste volume and reduces the risk of segregation during tremie placing. Slump: 180 to 220 mm at the time of placing (not at the batching plant — slump must be measured at the pile head just before placing through the tremie, accounting for transit time loss). This high slump is essential for the concrete to flow freely through the tremie pipe and fill the bore without segregation under the self-weight of the concrete column above. Admixture dosing: Centrament Nano 500 PCE superplasticiser at 0.8 to 1.2 percent by mass of cement — to achieve the high slump at the low water-cement ratio without excessive cement content. MC-Thix 111 at 0.4 to 0.6 percent by mass of cement — to provide anti-washout protection during the tremie placing process. The PCE superplasticiser and anti-washout admixture must be compatible — mix all admixtures in the concrete at the batching plant in the sequence recommended in the current TDS (typically the water-reducing admixture is added first, the anti-washout admixture last). Tremie placement procedure. Before placing the tremie concrete, conduct a full pile bore inspection: check bore geometry (casing diameter and depth, bore diameter below casing), measure bore depth against pile design, and check the bentonite slurry condition at the base of the bore (specific gravity should be 1.03 to 1.12 — if heavier, clean the bore before concreting). Install the tremie pipe assembly (typically 200 to 250 mm diameter seamless steel tube with watertight joints) to within 500 mm of the base of the bore before any concrete is placed. Start the pour by placing the first truck load directly into the tremie hopper with no interruption — the initial charge of concrete must displace the bentonite slurry at the base of the bore rapidly and completely. Place a plug (rubber ball or crumpled paper ball) at the top of the tremie before the first concrete is discharged — the plug is pushed down by the concrete pressure, separating the initial concrete from the bentonite above and minimising direct concrete-slurry contact. The tremie pipe must be kept submerged in the fresh concrete at all times during placing — minimum 1 to 2 metres embedment of the tremie tip below the concrete surface — to prevent upwelling of slurry from below. As the concrete level rises, remove tremie sections from the top in increments, always maintaining 1 to 2 metres of embedment. Never lift the tremie tip above the concrete surface during placing. Pour rate: maintain a continuous pour at a rate sufficient to keep the concrete surface rising — typically 15 to 25 cubic metres per hour for a 600 to 750 mm diameter pile — avoiding any break in pouring that would allow the concrete to start setting before the pour is complete. The pour is complete when clean concrete, free of bentonite contamination, overflows at the pile head. Continue pouring until the pile is overtopped — allow 300 to 500 mm of oversized bleed-contaminated concrete at the pile head to be trimmed away after setting. After completing the pile, allow 24 to 48 hours before conducting any pile integrity testing (low-strain impact test). Core pile heads in representative piles after 28 days to verify concrete quality if required by the contract specification. Space Arc Engineering provides MC-Thix 111, Centrament Nano 500, and full technical support for bored pile concrete mix design and specification for piling projects across Ghaziabad and Delhi NCR.
Source MC-Thix 111 for Your Project
Space Arc Engineering is an Authorized Project Distributor for MC-Bauchemie India serving Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, Noida and Uttar Pradesh.
Get MC-Thix 111 — Anti-Washout Admixture for Concrete Placed Underwater and in Flowing Water Conditions — pricing, TDS & technical help
Space Arc Engineering is an authorized MC-Bauchemie distributor & applicator in Delhi NCR & pan-India. Fast quotes, datasheets and on-site support.
Get a Quote on WhatsAppRequest TDS on WhatsAppRelated concrete admixtures products
Other concrete admixtures systems we supply & apply across Delhi NCR and pan-India.