Sika ViscoCrete-5138
A high-range polycarboxylate ether superplasticiser engineered for flowing, high-strength and self-compacting concrete where low water-cement ratios and long workability retention decide the outcome.
What is it?
A ready-to-use liquid superplasticiser based on modified polycarboxylate (PCE) polymer chemistry, dosed directly into the concrete mix to cut water demand and improve flow.
Where is it used?
Ready-mix plants, high-rise columns and transfer slabs, water-retaining structures, foundations and precast yards where dense reinforcement and long pumping distances are common.
Why use it?
It lets you drop the water-cement ratio sharply without losing workability, giving denser, stronger and more durable concrete that stays placeable for longer.
How is it applied?
Added into the gauging water or into the mixer after 50-70% of the water is in, at 0.2-2.0% by weight of cementitious material, followed by at least 60 seconds of wet mixing.
About Sika ViscoCrete-5138
Sika ViscoCrete-5138 is a third-generation superplasticiser built on modified polycarboxylate ether technology, supplied as a light-brown liquid that is added straight into the concrete mix. It belongs to the ViscoCrete family that Sika has positioned for demanding structural concrete, and its job is straightforward: allow the batch to run at a much lower water-cement ratio than plain concrete would tolerate, while keeping the mix cohesive and easy to place. For Indian ready-mix operators, precasters and site batching teams, that combination is what makes grades like M40 and above workable in the real world rather than only on paper.
What sets a PCE admixture like this apart from older naphthalene or melamine plasticisers is how it disperses cement. The long comb-shaped polymer chains physically hold cement grains apart, so a smaller volume of water can still coat and hydrate the cement fully. The practical results are the ones a project cares about: higher early and ultimate strength, tighter pore structure, better resistance to chloride and water ingress, and less drying shrinkage. Space Arc Engineering supplies ViscoCrete-5138 across Delhi NCR and Pan-India as an authorised Sika distributor, and we back it with dosage guidance and trial support so the admixture is matched to your cement, supplementary materials and target slump on site.
The technical insight
The performance comes from steric dispersion rather than the electrostatic-only mechanism of earlier superplasticisers. Each polycarboxylate molecule has a backbone that anchors to the cement particle and side chains that project outward; these side chains create a physical spacing barrier that keeps freshly wetted cement grains from flocculating together. Because the grains stay separated, the water that would otherwise be trapped inside cement clumps is released to lubricate the mix, which is why the same slump can be reached at a far lower water content. That lower water-cement ratio is the single biggest lever on hardened concrete: it directly raises compressive strength, reduces capillary porosity and cuts permeability. The side-chain architecture also releases its dispersing effect gradually, which is why workability holds for a useful window instead of collapsing within minutes, making the mix suited to long hauls, tall pumping runs and self-compacting placements around congested rebar.
Where it is used
- High-strength concrete for high-rise columns, shear walls and transfer slabs where low water-cement ratios are specified
- Self-compacting concrete that must flow and consolidate around dense reinforcement without vibration
- Ready-mix concrete requiring extended workability retention over long transit and haul times
- Pumped concrete for tall structures and long horizontal delivery lines
- Water-retaining structures such as tanks, reservoirs and basements where low permeability is critical
- Bridge and infrastructure foundations demanding durable, dense, high-performance concrete
- Precast and prestressed elements needing high early strength and a good surface finish
- Raft and mass foundations where cohesion and pumpability must be maintained at high output
Key advantages
- Very high water reduction, enabling low water-cement ratios without sacrificing placeability
- Strong slump and workability retention, so mixes stay usable through transit and pumping
- Higher early and ultimate compressive strength from the reduced water content
- Denser, less permeable concrete with improved resistance to chloride and water ingress
- Reduced drying shrinkage and improved dimensional stability of the hardened member
- Excellent cohesion and dispersion, giving smooth flow and a cleaner formed finish
- Compliant with IS 9103 and ASTM C494, so it fits standard structural specifications
- Suits self-compacting and pumped mixes, cutting placement labour and vibration effort
Limitations & considerations
- Optimum dosage must be established by site trials with your actual cement and SCMs; overdosing can cause bleeding, segregation or set retardation
- Performance depends on cement and admixture compatibility, so a fresh trial is needed whenever the cement source or fly ash/GGBS/microsilica proportion changes
- It is a water reducer, not an air-entrainer or a waterproofing coating, and does not replace membrane or crystalline waterproofing systems
- As an aqueous product it must be protected from frost and stored between +10°C and +40°C; freezing can damage the material
- Shelf life is 12 months in sealed original packaging, and part-used or improperly resealed drums degrade faster
- Direct addition onto dry aggregate or cement gives poor dispersion, so batching sequence discipline is essential
Selection & best practice
Always begin with laboratory or field trials to fix the dosage for your specific mix, starting near the lower end of the 0.2-2.0% range and adjusting to hit the target slump or flow. Add the admixture into the gauging water or into the mixer only after 50-70% of the mixing water has gone in, never directly onto dry cement or aggregate, and allow a minimum of 60 seconds of wet mixing so the polymer disperses fully. Keep the total water in check when you add the admixture, since the whole benefit lies in exploiting the reduced water demand rather than adding it back. Re-trial whenever the cement grade, brand or supplementary cementitious material ratio changes. Store drums off the ground, out of direct sunlight, protected from frost, and use older stock first to stay within the 12-month shelf life. For self-compacting mixes, validate flow, passing ability and segregation resistance on trial batches before committing to a pour.
Specifications
| Chemical base | Aqueous solution of modified polycarboxylate (PCE) |
| Appearance | Light brown liquid |
| Density | approx. 1.13 kg/l at 25°C |
| pH value | greater than or equal to 6 |
| Dosage range | 0.2 – 2.0% by weight of cementitious material |
| Standards | IS 9103, ASTM C494 |
| Pack size | 255 kg drums or bulk supply |
| Shelf life | 12 months from production in sealed, undamaged original packaging |
| Storage | +10°C to +40°C, dry, protected from direct sunlight and frost |
Industry use cases
High-Rise Buildings
Enables high-strength columns, cores and transfer slabs at low water-cement ratios while keeping mixes pumpable to significant heights.
Ready-Mix Concrete
Holds workability through long transit times, letting RMC plants deliver flowing, consistent concrete to distant sites without re-tempering.
Infrastructure & Bridges
Produces dense, durable, low-permeability concrete for foundations, piers and decks exposed to aggressive service conditions.
Water-Retaining Structures
Supports low-permeability, crack-resistant concrete for tanks, reservoirs and basement rafts where watertightness is essential.
Precast & SCC Yards
Delivers self-compacting flow around congested reinforcement and high early strength for faster demoulding and clean finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the recommended dosage of Sika ViscoCrete-5138?
How should it be added to the concrete mix?
Which standards does ViscoCrete-5138 comply with?
Is it suitable for self-compacting and pumped concrete?
What pack sizes are available and what is the shelf life?
Does it make concrete waterproof?
How we position Sika ViscoCrete-5138
Within the Sika range, ViscoCrete-5138 sits alongside other ViscoCrete superplasticisers such as ViscoCrete-5201 NS and the wider PCE water-reducer family; where a project needs a different retention profile or dosage response, those siblings are the natural first alternatives to trial. For water-tightness on the same structure, pair it with Sika’s waterproofing and crystalline systems rather than relying on the admixture alone, and for construction joints and repair work our Sika sealant and repair mortar lines complement it. Across our other brands, Fosroc offers a directly comparable PCE platform, while MC-Bauchemie and Master Builders Solutions provide further admixture options where a specifier wants to standardise on a particular supplier ecosystem. Space Arc Engineering stocks all of these and can help you select and trial the right admixture for your mix design.
Fosroc Auramix 500 — A specifier standardising their concrete admixtures on Fosroc may prefer Auramix 500, an equivalent PCE-based high-range superplasticiser with an inbuilt VMA for self-compacting and ultra-high-strength mixes.
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Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.