New concrete technology tackles rain, summer heat

A new concrete technology that can be applied during rainfall and in hot weather while maintaining consistent quality has been developed.

According to industry sources Tuesday, companies jointly secured the "concrete manufacturing technology for hot-weather and rainy-weather conditions" through a collaborative effort. The technology recently obtained certification from the Korea Institute of Building Construction, clearing the way for it to be adopted at construction sites.

The technology, jointly developed by Asia Zumsan, Halla Cement, Halla NCOM and Asia Cement, is designed to withstand both high temperatures and rainfall. It preserves workability over extended periods in hot summer conditions and minimizes quality degradation in wet conditions. The technology combines PCE-based dispersion-retention technology with glycol-based rheology control technology. According to the developers, it keeps flowability stable and suppresses material segregation and loss of cement paste caused by rainwater infiltration.

When average temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius, or when the maximum temperature within 24 hours of pouring exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, concrete's hydration reaction accelerates. As moisture evaporation increases, slump loss and reduced workability occur rapidly.

The developers said the technology improves flowability under these conditions, helping maintain stable work efficiency and construction quality. At the same time, it strengthens resistance to scouring and material segregation caused by rainwater in wet conditions with rainfall of 3 millimeters or less per hour.

"We have systematized 'ultra-retention concrete,' which maintains flowability over an extended period, and 'rain-resistant concrete,' which reduces quality degradation caused by rainfall, into a single heat-resistant concrete manufacturing system," the developers said. "This can prevent construction delays caused by adverse weather and reduce costs for rework, repair and maintenance. We expect that, based on the technology we have secured, we will be able to overcome weather-related constraints at construction sites and achieve safe construction quality."