Sika SikaPlast-376 X
A polycarboxylate ether high-range water reducer that lets you cut mixing water hard while keeping concrete flowing, dense and strong.
What is it?
A PolyCarboxylate Ether (PCE) based high-range water-reducing superplasticiser from Sika, supplied as a light brown liquid for ready-mixed and site concrete.
Where is it used?
RMC plants, high-rise and infrastructure pours, industrial floors, water-retaining structures, precast and prestressed elements across Delhi NCR and pan-India.
Why use it?
Delivers strong water reduction so you get higher density, higher strength and lower permeability without sacrificing workability, and it stays consistent across varying aggregates and cements.
How is it applied?
Dosed at 0.2 to 2 percent by weight of cementitious into the gauging water or mixer, with the final addition after two-thirds of a 60-second-plus wet mix. Never add to dry cement.
About Sika SikaPlast-376 X
SikaPlast-376 X is Sika’s workhorse polycarboxylate ether superplasticiser for the Indian market, built for concrete producers who need reliable, high-range water reduction day after day. Unlike older naphthalene or lignosulphonate plasticisers, it uses comb-shaped PCE molecules that disperse cement grains far more efficiently, so you can pull a large volume of water out of the mix and still place, pump and compact the concrete comfortably. That water reduction is what translates into the properties specifiers actually care about: higher compressive strength, greater density and a tighter, less permeable matrix that resists chloride and sulphate ingress. It conforms to IS 9103 and ASTM C494, so it slots cleanly into IS-code mix designs and specifications across the country.
For a distributor-applicator working with RMC plants and contractors, the practical appeal of SikaPlast-376 X is its forgiving nature. Sika positions it as less sensitive to variations in aggregate grading and cement type, which matters when your sand source shifts mid-project or you are running blended cements one week and OPC the next. It works at low dosage rates, extends workability long enough for realistic haul and placing times, and is compatible with the wider Sika admixture range. Space Arc supplies it in 255 kg HDPE carboys and by tanker, backed by dosage-trial guidance so your first pour is dialled in rather than guessed.
The technical insight
The mechanism is steric dispersion. A PCE molecule has a charged backbone that anchors onto the cement particle and long side chains that project outward into the pore solution. When cement first contacts water, fine grains naturally flocculate and trap mixing water inside those clusters, water that then does nothing for strength and only adds to the water-cement ratio. The adsorbed PCE chains physically hold neighbouring particles apart, breaking up those flocs and releasing the trapped water back into the mix as usable lubrication. The result is that a given slump can be reached with substantially less total water, which is the whole point: strength and durability in concrete are governed largely by water-cement ratio, and every litre of water you remove without losing workability buys you a denser, stronger, less permeable end product. Because the effect is steric rather than purely electrostatic, it is robust across different cement chemistries and holds workability longer than earlier-generation plasticisers.
Where it is used
- Ready-mixed concrete production where consistent workability and water reduction are needed batch after batch
- High-rise and commercial structural concrete requiring high strength and pumpability
- Infrastructure works such as bridges, flyovers and metro elements
- Industrial and warehouse floor slabs demanding low permeability and good finish
- Water-retaining structures like tanks, reservoirs and treatment plants where density resists leakage
- Precast and prestressed components where early strength supports faster demoulding
- Foundations and rafts in aggressive or effluent-exposed ground
- General high-performance concrete across varying local raw materials
Key advantages
- Strong water reduction giving higher density, higher strength and reduced permeability
- High efficiency even at low dosage, improving cost-per-cubic-metre economics
- Less sensitive to variations in aggregate grading and cement type
- Extended workability retention that supports realistic transport and placing times
- Superior plasticising effect for easier flow, placing and compaction
- Compatible with all cement types and with many other Sika admixtures
- Conforms to IS 9103 and ASTM C494 for straightforward specification
- Supplied in 255 kg carboys or bulk tanker to suit site or plant logistics
Limitations & considerations
- Optimum dosage must be established through site trials with your actual materials, not assumed from the datasheet range
- Overdosing or excess water can cause bleeding, segregation and delayed setting
- Performance depends on a suitable mix design and trialled local material sources
- Must never be added to dry cement; it goes into the gauging water or mixer
- Effectiveness and slump retention vary with mixing time, mixer performance and ambient temperature
- Shelf life is limited to 12 months and it must be stored between +10 C and +40 C, protected from frost and direct sunlight
Selection & best practice
Add SikaPlast-376 X to the gauging water or into the mixer with the water, never onto dry cement. Stir the product well before use and hold a wet mixing time of at least 60 seconds so the PCE can fully disperse the cement; to avoid locking excess water into the mix, begin the final dosage only after roughly two-thirds of the wet mixing time has passed. Always run laboratory and site trials to fix the optimum dosage within the 0.2 to 2 percent band for your specific cement, aggregates and target slump before committing to a production pour. Watch for bleeding or segregation as an early sign of overdosing or too much free water, and re-trial whenever your sand, aggregate or cement source changes. Keep drums sealed and stored in the specified temperature range, and clean tools and equipment with water immediately after use since cured material can only be removed mechanically.
Specifications
| Chemical base | PolyCarboxylate Ether (PCE) |
| Appearance / colour | Light brown liquid |
| Density | ~1.07 kg/l at 25 C |
| pH value | greater than or equal to 6 |
| Recommended dosage | 0.2% to 2% by weight of cementitious |
| Standards | IS 9103, ASTM C494 |
| Packaging | 255 kg HDPE carboy or tanker supply |
| Shelf life | 12 months in unopened, sealed, undamaged packaging |
| Storage | +10 C to +40 C, dry, protected from sunlight and frost |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mixed Concrete
Gives RMC plants dependable water reduction and workability across changing raw materials, keeping loads placeable over real haul times.
High-Rise & Commercial
Produces the high-strength, pumpable concrete needed for tall structures while holding slump long enough to reach upper floors.
Infrastructure
Supports dense, durable concrete for bridges, flyovers and metro works exposed to traffic loading and the elements.
Water-Retaining Structures
The low-permeability matrix from strong water reduction helps tanks, reservoirs and treatment plants resist leakage and chemical attack.
Precast & Prestressed
Good early strength development aids faster demoulding and casting-bed turnover in precast yards.
Frequently asked questions
What is SikaPlast-376 X used for?
What dosage of SikaPlast-376 X should I use?
Does it conform to Indian standards?
How should it be added to the mix?
How is it packed and how long does it last?
Can it be combined with other admixtures?
How we position Sika SikaPlast-376 X
Within the Sika range, SikaPlast-376 X sits as a dependable general-purpose PCE superplasticiser for everyday RMC and structural concrete; where a project needs stronger slump retention for long hauls or hot-weather placing, or self-compacting concrete, step up to a higher-performance SikaPlast grade or a SikaViscoCrete slump-retaining superplasticiser. Pair it with a curing compound and, for water-retaining or below-grade elements, a Sika waterproofing admixture or membrane. Across our other brands, buyers cross-shopping this product also consider Fosroc Auramix and Conplast PCE superplasticisers, MC-Bauchemie MC-PowerFlow, and Master Builders Solutions MasterGlenium; Space Arc can supply and match dosage guidance across all of these so the specifier is not locked to a single brand.
Fosroc Auramix 400 — Choose the Fosroc option when the specification calls for self-compacting concrete or extended workability retention on long-haul, hot-weather pours, where Auramix 400 is positioned for high slump-life.
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