Accelerating Additives · 🇳🇴 Norway
Denka Beform®
Controllable working timeQuick hardening additive for mortars, grouts and precast concrete
Denka Beform® is a cementitious quick hardening additive (QHA) by the Japanese manufacturer Denka, based on amorphous calcium aluminates. Replacing 10–25 % of the cement, mortars typically reach 10–30 MPa compressive strength after 6 hours. Handling time is adjustable from approx. 20 minutes to 2 hours with DENKA SETTER D-300. NEWCHEM supplies Denka Beform® in Norway and across Europe.
- Product type
- Cementitious quick hardening additive (QHA)
- Dosage
- 10–25 % of the binder
- Early strength
- 10–30 MPa after 6 h
Recommended retarders
DENKA SETTER D-300
alternatively: tartaric acid
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Applications
Quick hardening grouts
High early strength for rapid load-bearing capacity in installation and grouting work.
Self-levelling compounds
Early walkability and readiness for floor coverings in levelling compounds.
Quick hardening repair mortars
Short closure times in repair work.
Precast concrete elements and concrete products
Immediate or early demoulding of small elements, shorter mould cycles, less heat curing.
Decorative and design mortars
Fast further processing.
Suitability depends on cement, mix design, dosage and temperature. We recommend preliminary trials – our technical service team will support you.
Benefits
- High early strength: 10–30 MPa after 6 h possible, depending on mix design
- Controllable handling time: approx. 20 min to 2 h with DENKA SETTER D-300
- Shorter demoulding times and production cycles: faster mould turnover in precast plants
- Less heat curing: the need for steam and heat curing can be reduced
- Lower shrinkage tendency: the expansive properties can reduce autogenous and drying shrinkage
- Better flow than the OPC reference: 209–215 mm flow compared with 153 mm (example data, see table)
Mode of action
The amorphous calcium aluminates in Denka Beform® react with sulphate and calcium hydroxide to form ettringite before the actual cement hydration begins. The ettringite crystals fill the pore space and thus provide the high early strength. DENKA SETTER D-300 delays the onset of the reaction in a targeted way, which makes the handling time adjustable.
Show reaction equation
12CaO·7Al₂O₃ (amorphous) + 21 CaSO₄ + 9 Ca(OH)₂ + 215 H₂O → 7 (3CaO·Al₂O₃·3CaSO₄·32H₂O)
Technical data
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product type | Cementitious quick hardening additive (QHA) |
| Basis | Amorphous calcium aluminates |
| Appearance | Greyish-white powder |
| Specific gravity | 2.92 |
| Specific surface (Blaine) | approx. 6,000 cm²/g |
| Typical dosage | 10–25 % of the binder (cement replacement), depending on mix design |
| Handling time | approx. 20 min – 2 h, adjustable with DENKA SETTER D-300 or tartaric acid |
| Packaging | 20 kg bag · other containers / palletising on request |
| Manufacturer | Denka Company Limited, Japan |
| Distribution | NEWCHEM GmbH, Baden bei Wien (Austria) |
Typical values, not a specification. The data in the current technical data sheet are binding.
Strength development in mortar
In Denka tests with standard mortar, a mix with 25 % Denka Beform® reached 16.3 MPa after 3 hours, 37.5 MPa after 6 hours and 73.2 MPa after 1 day. The pure Portland cement reference (OPC) reached 32.0 MPa after 1 day. A calcium aluminate cement (CAC) only achieved a comparable 6-hour strength of 43.5 MPa at a significantly higher share of 90 %.
| Binder | Retarder | Flow (mm) | Handling time (min) | 3 h (MPa) | 6 h (MPa) | 1 d (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPC 100 % (reference) | – | 153 | 300 | – | – | 32.0 |
| OPC 90 % + BEFORM 10 % | D-300, 0.26 % | 209 | 55 | 7.1 | 15.4 | 35.9 |
| OPC 85 % + BEFORM 15 % | D-300, 0.26 % | 212 | 56 | 11.4 | 24.4 | 45.4 |
| OPC 75 % + BEFORM 25 % | D-300, 0.28 % | 215 | 68 | 16.3 | 37.5 | 73.2 |
| OPC 80 % + CAC 20 % | Tartaric acid, 0.11 % | 187 | 29 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 11.8 |
| OPC 20 % + CAC 80 % | Tartaric acid, 0.27 % | 162 | 30 | 5.1 | 18.4 | 55.2 |
| OPC 10 % + CAC 90 % | Tartaric acid, 0.13 % | 168 | 30 | 19.6 | 43.5 | 59.5 |
Test conditions: ISO standard sand, tap water, binder : sand = 1 : 1.5, water/binder = 0.30. Flow after 25 drops. Retarder: DENKA SETTER D-300 for Denka Beform®, tartaric acid for CAC, each in % of the quick hardening component. Example data from the manufacturer Denka; the values are not a specification and depend on cement, mix design, temperature and test conditions.
Documentation
The following documents are available for Denka Beform®:
- Technical data sheet (TDS)
- Safety data sheet (SDS) in accordance with REACH / CLP
- Denka product brochure
Frequently asked questions
What is Denka Beform®?
Denka Beform® is a cementitious quick hardening additive (QHA) by the Japanese manufacturer Denka, based on amorphous calcium aluminates. In cement-bound mortars and concretes it provides high early strength with a controllable handling time.
What is the typical dosage of Denka Beform®?
Typically, Denka Beform® replaces 10–25 % of the cement in the binder. In the manufacturer's tests, 10 % gave around 15 MPa and 25 % around 37.5 MPa after 6 hours. The optimum amount depends on cement, mix design and target strength and should be determined in preliminary trials.
How can the handling time be adjusted?
With the retarder DENKA SETTER D-300 or tartaric acid, the handling time can be adjusted between approx. 20 minutes and 2 hours. In the manufacturer's tests, 0.26–0.28 % D-300, relative to the amount of Beform, gave 55–68 minutes.
How does Denka Beform® differ from calcium aluminate cement (CAC)?
In Denka comparison tests, Denka Beform® achieved high early and 1-day strengths with a share of only 10–25 %. CAC required a share of around 90 % for comparable 6-hour values. In addition, the Beform mixes showed a higher flow (209–215 mm compared with 162–187 mm) and a longer handling time (55–68 min compared with 29–30 min).
Which applications is Denka Beform® suitable for?
For quick hardening grouts, self-levelling compounds, repair mortars, decorative mortars and for the early and immediate demoulding of precast concrete elements and concrete products.
Can Denka Beform® reduce heat curing in precast plants?
Yes, thanks to the high early strength the need for steam or heat curing can decrease. How much depends on mix design, element and production process and should be tested in the plant.
In which packaging is Denka Beform® available?
As standard in a 20 kg bag; other containers and palletising on request. NEWCHEM prepares an individual quotation for quantities, delivery times and conditions.
Which documents are available?
Technical data sheet (TDS) and safety data sheet (SDS) in accordance with REACH/CLP. Request them via the form on this page.
Request sample
Have questions or need technical support? We will respond shortly.