Sika Sikament-2004 NS
A naphthalene-based high-range water reducer that turns stiff, low-workability mixes into free-flowing, dense, high-strength concrete without adding water.
What is it?
A ready-to-use liquid superplasticiser and high-range water reducer built on modified naphthalene formaldehyde sulphonate chemistry, conforming to IS 9103:1999 and ASTM C494 Type F.
Where is it used?
Ready-mix plants, precast and prestressed yards, heavily reinforced foundations and rafts, industrial floors and pavements across Delhi NCR and pan-India projects.
Why use it?
It lets you cut mixing water sharply while holding slump, so you get higher early and ultimate strength, better durability and a cleaner finish from the same cement content.
How is it applied?
Dosed at 0.5-2.0% by weight of cement, added to the mix water or into the mixer after 50-70% of the water is in, then wet-mixed for at least 60 seconds.
About Sika Sikament-2004 NS
Sika Sikament-2004 NS is one of the workhorse superplasticisers on Indian sites, and for good reason. It is a modified naphthalene formaldehyde sulphonate liquid that disperses cement particles the moment it hits the mix, breaking up the flocs that normally trap water and stiffen concrete. The practical result is a dark-brown admixture you can use two ways: hold the water constant and get a dramatic jump in flow, or hold the flow constant and strip out water for a denser, stronger, more durable pour. Most engineers use it for the second reason, because the strength and permeability gains are where the real value sits.
For a distributor’s customer base of RMC producers, precasters and site contractors, its appeal is reliability rather than novelty. It is a proven Type F high-range water reducer that behaves predictably across a wide dosage window, tolerates Indian summer temperatures, and keeps concrete cohesive instead of segregating when you push it toward a free-flowing consistency. Space Arc Engineering supplies it as an authorised Sika channel partner with technical backing on dosage trials, so you are not left guessing at the right addition rate for your cement and aggregate combination.
The technical insight
The mechanism is electrostatic dispersion. Fresh cement paste flocculates: particles clump together and lock away a portion of the mixing water inside the clusters, so that water does nothing for hydration or workability. The sulphonated naphthalene polymer in Sikament-2004 NS adsorbs onto the cement grains and imparts a strong negative surface charge, so the grains repel each other instead of clumping. That trapped water is released back into the mix, which is why you can either use it as free-flowing lubrication or remove it entirely. Because the extra fluidity comes from deflocculation and not from added water, the water-cement ratio drops. A lower w/c ratio means fewer capillary pores in the hardened matrix, and that single change drives almost every benefit downstream: higher compressive strength, lower permeability, better water-tightness and improved resistance to aggressive exposure. It is a naphthalene (SNF) chemistry rather than a modern polycarboxylate (PCE), so slump retention is shorter and the plasticising effect is more front-loaded, which is exactly what suits precast and quick-turnaround pours.
Where it is used
- Ready-mixed concrete for infrastructure, commercial and residential projects where a consistent, pumpable mix is needed
- Free-flowing concrete for floor slabs, rafts and large-area pours that must be placed with minimal vibration
- Congested, heavily reinforced foundations, columns and shear walls where concrete has to travel around dense steel
- Precast concrete elements requiring high early strength for faster mould turnaround and de-moulding
- Prestressed and post-tensioned members that demand dense, low-permeability concrete around the tendons
- Concrete pavements, hardstandings and industrial ground floors needing a tight, durable surface
- High-strength structural concrete (M40 and above) where water reduction is the primary route to grade
- Hot-weather concreting where a cohesive, workable mix must be maintained through placing and finishing
Key advantages
- Large water reduction from the same slump, raising both early and 28-day compressive strength
- Denser, less permeable concrete with better water-tightness and long-term durability
- Produces a genuinely free-flowing, self-levelling consistency for easier placing and less vibration
- Good cohesion, so the mix stays uniform and resists segregation and bleeding even at high flow
- Reliable performance in hot Indian summer conditions where workability is otherwise hard to hold
- Cleaner off-form and trowelled surface finishes with fewer blowholes
- Wide, forgiving dosage window (0.5-2.0% by weight of cement) that is easy to dial in by trial
- Conforms to IS 9103:1999 and ASTM C494 Type F, so it slots straight into most specifications
Limitations & considerations
- As a naphthalene-based (SNF) admixture, slump retention is shorter than modern PCE superplasticisers, so long haul or delayed placing may need re-dosing or a retarder
- Overdosing beyond the recommended range can cause bleeding, segregation or retarded set, especially in leaner or high-water mixes
- It is a water reducer, not a retarder; in very hot conditions or long transit you may still need a separate set-retarding admixture
- Optimum dosage varies with cement type, aggregates and target grade, so a site trial mix is essential rather than optional
- Not a corrosion inhibitor or waterproofing product on its own; water-tightness comes from the lower w/c ratio, not a coating action
- Compatibility with other admixtures in the same mix should be checked by trial before combining
Selection & best practice
Always establish dosage by trial mix with your actual cement and aggregates rather than defaulting to a fixed percentage; the 0.5-2.0% by weight of cement range is a starting envelope, not a recipe. For best dispersion, add Sikament-2004 NS to the mixing water or into the mixer after 50-70% of the water has gone in, never onto dry cement, and follow with a wet mixing time of at least 60 seconds so the polymer distributes fully. If you are reducing water, cut the water first and confirm the target slump before finalising the dose. Because slump loss with naphthalene chemistry is quicker than with PCE, plan placing around a realistic working window and, for long transit, discuss a retarder or a small re-dose at site with our technical team. Store the drums in dry, shaded conditions between +10C and +40C, keep them sealed and clear of frost and direct sun, and use within the 12-month shelf life. Standard concreting PPE applies; wash off skin or eye contact with clean water.
Specifications
| Chemical base | Modified naphthalene formaldehyde sulphonate (SNF) |
| Function | Superplasticiser / high-range water reducer |
| Appearance | Dark brown liquid |
| Density | Approx. 1.18 kg/l at 25 C |
| Recommended dosage | 0.5% to 2.0% by weight of cement |
| Standards | IS 9103:1999; ASTM C494 Type F |
| Packaging | 275 kg drums or bulk supply |
| Shelf life | 12 months in sealed, undamaged original packaging |
| Storage | +10 C to +40 C, protected from frost and direct sun |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mix Concrete
RMC plants use it to hit a target slump at a controlled water-cement ratio, delivering pumpable, cohesive concrete that holds through transit to site.
Precast & Prestressed
Yards rely on the high water reduction and early strength to de-mould faster, improve daily mould cycles and produce dense concrete around tendons.
Infrastructure & Foundations
For rafts, pile caps and heavily reinforced substructures, it gives a free-flowing mix that fills congested formwork with minimal vibration.
Industrial Flooring & Pavements
Floor slabs and hardstandings benefit from the lower permeability and tighter surface, improving abrasion resistance and finish quality.
High-Strength Structural Concrete
For M40-plus grades, water reduction is the cleanest route to strength; the admixture pushes density up without changing cement content.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sikament-2004 NS the same as a plasticiser, or is it stronger?
What dosage should I use?
Does it contain chloride? Is it safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete?
How long does the workability last after dosing?
How is it added to the mix?
What pack sizes and lead times does Space Arc offer?
How we position Sika Sikament-2004 NS
Within the Sika range, Sikament-2004 NS is the dependable naphthalene-based workhorse. Where a project needs longer slump retention for extended transit or a self-compacting mix, step up to Sika’s newer polycarboxylate (PCE) superplasticisers such as the Sika ViscoCrete range, which hold workability far longer. If the requirement is only modest water reduction and improved workability rather than high-range performance, a standard plasticiser is more economical. For curing, protection and repair around the same pour, pair it with Sika’s curing compounds and concrete repair mortars. Across our other brands, comparable naphthalene superplasticisers include MC-Bauchemie and Master Builders Solutions admixtures, so we can match a specification even when a particular brand is nominated.
Fosroc Conplast SP430 — A specifier standardised on Fosroc, or one needing compliance with both IS 9103:1999 and BS 5075 alongside ASTM Types F and A, may prefer Conplast SP430 as the directly equivalent chloride-free naphthalene superplasticiser.
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