Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

Paving stones, kerbstones, split architectural blocks and other Manufactured Concrete Products (MCP), have both decorative and practical purposes. Superior aesthetics, mainly represented by a homogeneous and close surface texture, color brilliancy and absence of efflorescence are of paramount importance and may become decisive selling factors. Efflorescence is by far the most challenging issue for MCP producers, mainly due to its often unpredictable occurrence. This paper, after a brief overview of the phenomenon, presents the holistic approach proposed by BASF to the producers of earth-moist concrete elements, to assist in the avoidance of efflorescence.