STP ShaliPlast PCE 400
Third-generation polycarboxylate ether superplasticiser from STP Ltd for M60–M100 concrete — 25–35% water reduction, high early strength and chloride-free chemistry, supplied and supported pan-India by Space Arc Engineering.
What is it?
A third-generation polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticiser from STP Ltd — the highest water-reducing grade in the ShaliPlast PCE series, conforming to IS 9103:1999 and ASTM C494 Type G.
Where is it used?
M60–M100 concrete: ready-mix plants, precast and prestressed yards, self-compacting concrete, fast-track in-situ pours and high-rise or bridge infrastructure.
Why use it?
25–35% water reduction at ultra-low water-cement ratios, pronounced early strength for quicker stripping, and better cohesion with less bleeding — with nil chloride content.
How is it applied?
Dosed at 0.2–1.0% by weight of cementitious material (1.0–2.0% for SCC and very low w/c mixes) into the final portion of mixing water — never onto dry cement.
About STP ShaliPlast PCE 400
ShaliPlast PCE 400 is the premium grade in STP Ltd’s polycarboxylate ether admixture range, developed for concrete that older-generation plasticisers simply cannot deliver — M60 to M100 mixes, self-compacting concrete and prestressed elements where every litre of mixing water counts. It is a light brownish liquid dosed by weight of cementitious material, and it conforms to IS 9103:1999 and ASTM C494 Type G, so it slots directly into specifications written around either code. Within STP’s series it offers the maximum water reduction of the PCE 100/200/300/400 family.
On site, that chemistry translates into two commercial gains. First, water reductions of 25–35% let mix designers hit very low water-cement ratios without losing pumpability, which is how high-density, low-permeability concrete gets built. Second, the pronounced early-strength development shortens stripping and mould-turnover cycles — a direct saving for precast yards and fast-track structural work. Space Arc Engineering stocks and supports it across Delhi NCR and pan-India.
The technical insight
PCE admixtures work differently from the older SNF and melamine types. The molecule is a comb polymer: a charged backbone that adsorbs onto cement grains, with long polyether side chains projecting outward. Those side chains physically hold particles apart — steric hindrance — rather than relying only on electrostatic repulsion, which fades as hydration products form. The result is a more durable dispersion: flocculated cement releases its trapped water, so the same workability is achieved with far less of it, and slump holds longer at lower dosage. Because the polymer adsorbs onto hydrating surfaces, overdosing occupies too many nucleation sites and delays setting — which is why PCE 400 carries a Type G (water-reducing and retarding) classification and why dosage must be fixed by site trial, not assumption. Rising concrete temperature works the other way: faster slump loss and shorter initial set.
Where it is used
- Ready-mix concrete requiring workability retention over long delivery leads
- High-grade structural concrete in the M60–M100 range
- Precast and prestressed elements where early stripping drives mould economics
- Self-compacting concrete for congested reinforcement and complex formwork (1.0–2.0% dosage)
- Fast-track in-situ concrete needing early formwork striking
- Pumped concrete for high-rise cores and columns
- Bridge decks, segments and infrastructure concrete where low permeability is specified
- Mortars and plasters where high flow at low water content is needed
Key advantages
- 25–35% water reduction enables ultra-low water-cement ratios and high-density, high-strength concrete
- Pronounced early-strength gain gives economical stripping times for precast and in-situ work
- Excellent plasticising action improves flowability, placing and compaction
- Higher mix cohesion reduces segregation and bleeding in high-slump concrete
- Improved shrinkage and creep behaviour of the hardened concrete
- Nil chloride content — safe for reinforced and prestressed steel
- Compatible with all Portland cements including SRC, and with PFA, GGBFS and micro silica
- Reduced permeability improves long-term durability against water ingress
Limitations & considerations
- Overdosage delays concrete setting time — dosage must be established through site trials, not assumed
- Must not contact dry cement; it has to be added with or into the mixing water
- Slump-loss and setting behaviour shift with cement characteristics, SCM content and mix design — results vary between plants
- Higher concrete temperature increases slump loss and shortens initial set, tightening the placing window in Indian summers
- Supplied only in 250 kg barrels, which suits plants and large sites better than small trial purchases
- Trial mixes are mandatory before combining it with other admixtures in the same mix
Selection & best practice
Charge aggregates and cement into the mixer with roughly 85% of the mixing water and mix normally. Blend ShaliPlast PCE 400 into the remaining 15% of water, add it to reach the target slump, and mix a further 3–4 minutes. Start trials at 0.2–1.0% by weight of cementitious material for conventional high-grade mixes; move to 1.0–2.0% for self-compacting concrete or very low water-cement ratios, and lock the final dose from cube results and slump-retention data at your plant. For walls and narrow sections, make formwork watertight and stronger than for conventional concrete — high-flow mixes find every gap and exert higher pressure. Wear gloves and eye protection; rinse skin contact with water, not solvent. Store barrels under shed, cool and dry.
Specifications
| Form / Colour | Liquid, light brownish |
| Specific gravity at 30°C | 1.10 ± 0.04 |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Chloride content | Nil |
| Dosage | 0.2–1.0% by weight of cementitious material (1.0–2.0% for SCC / very low w/c) |
| Water reduction | 25–35% (typical, mix-dependent) |
| Standards compliance | IS 9103:1999; ASTM C494 Type G |
| Packing | 250 kg barrel |
| Shelf life | 12 months in original unopened condition |
Industry use cases
Ready-Mix Concrete
Holds workability through long haul times in NCR traffic while keeping water-cement ratios low, so the mix arrives pumpable without site water addition.
Precast & Prestressed Yards
High early strength shortens mould turnover and brings forward prestress transfer, lifting daily output from the same bed count.
High-Rise Construction
Flowable M60+ concrete pumps to height and compacts fully around congested reinforcement in cores, columns and transfer levels.
Bridges & Metro Infrastructure
Low-permeability, high-density deck and segment concrete for durability-driven specifications on national highway and metro packages.
Self-Compacting Concrete
At 1.0–2.0% dosage it delivers the fluidity SCC needs for complex formwork and architectural finishes without segregation.
Frequently asked questions
What dosage should we start site trials at?
How is PCE 400 different from ShaliPlast PCE 100, 200 and 300?
Why pay more for a PCE instead of an SNF superplasticiser?
Does ShaliPlast PCE 400 retard setting?
Is it safe for reinforced and prestressed concrete?
What pack size does it come in, and how should we store it?
How we position STP ShaliPlast PCE 400
ShaliPlast PCE 400 sits at the top of STP’s admixture ladder. If your grades are M40 and below, ShaliPlast PCE 100, 200 or 300 give the same chemistry at friendlier economics, while ShaliPlast PCE 300-VM adds viscosity modification for self-compacting mixes that tend to segregate. Where the specification also calls for reinforcement protection, pair the mix with STP’s ShaliPlast CI corrosion-inhibiting admixture. For projects standardised on Fosroc, Space Arc supplies the equivalent Auramix PCE range (300/400/500) and Conplast SP430 as the economical SNF option — talk to us and we will match the admixture to your mix design rather than the other way around.
Fosroc Auramix 500 — Specifiers standardising on Fosroc across a project often choose Auramix 500 for the same high-range PCE duty on M60+ and SCC mixes, backed by Fosroc’s mix-design support network.
Related Concrete Admixtures products
Source STP ShaliPlast PCE 400 for your project
Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.