April 28, 2025
Construction chemicals are an important part of the construction industry for many reasons. These chemicals are known for enhancing the durability, strength, and quality of structures. Be it industrial, residential, or commercial building projects, chemicals for construction are a very useful tool for improving the workability, bonding and setting time of construction materials.
There are several types of chemicals for construction available in the market that perform various roles. In this blog, we will discuss six different types of chemicals for construction and how they are used. But before we begin, here is a brief overview of building construction chemicals.
Construction chemicals are a group of chemical compounds that are widely used in the construction industry. These chemicals are mixed with materials such as concrete, cement, mortar, and grout. Mixing these chemicals with construction materials improves the material’s properties like durability, surface finish, compressive strength, and resilience against climate and corrosive elements.
Concrete admixtures are chemicals mixed with concrete to alter their properties according to the construction’s requirements. It is often mixed during the initial mixture stage along with cement, water, and aggregate. Various types of concrete admixtures can be classified according to their operation, such as plasticisers, superplasticisers, accelerators, retarders, and air-entraining agents. They change the concrete’s properties including curing temperature range, workability, set colour, or time.
Plasticisers and superplasticisers reduce the water-cement ratio in concrete by a different degree. These improve flowability, durability, and strength. Accelerators are added to speed up the setting and hardening process of concrete. Retarders are basically the opposite of accelerators. They reduce the setting time of concrete providing ample work time.
Tile adhesives are basically the glue used to stick the tiles to the floor and walls. A grout is a cement-based material that is poured into the gaps between the tiles to make everything look clean. Tile adhesives and grout are extensively used in every construction to create flawless flooring and tile walls. Other than installation, they are also used for repairs.
Grouts can be found in a number of formulations including cementitious, epoxy, or polymer. Epoxy grouts are known to be resilient to extremely high temperatures, acids, grease, oil, and chemicals. Tile adhesives are also available in epoxy forms. Choose the right formulations to ensure long-lasting bonds.
Structures that are constantly in contact with water are easily damaged, such as floors, ceilings, bathroom walls, and outer walls. Hence, waterproofing these surfaces is extremely crucial. Waterproofing chemicals are widely used in commercial as well as residential construction to enable the structure to withstand monsoons and other elements.
Waterproofing chemicals are available in the form of coatings, membranes, or additives. These chemicals are often added to either concrete or mortar and they form a membrane between the outer and inner surface, preventing leaks. Mcon Rasayan offers a range of chemical waterproofing systems.
Protective agents are a type of chemical that is coated over the concrete surface to prevent corrosion and other environmental damage. These protective agents can be made up of either metallic or non-metallic bases. Once these agents are coated, additional materials are applied to achieve other specifications like decorative appearance, high durability, fire-proofing, heat insulation, sound insulation, and early completion.
Non-metallic agents are often made from polymers, epoxies, and polyurethanes. On the other hand, metallic agents use aluminium, zinc, and chromium. These agents can be applied in various ways.
Cement does not bond well with other substrates even in concrete mixture as it lacks a natural bonding agent. Hence, when concrete alone is applied to an existing layer of concrete, steel or iron, it doesn’t bond to it and sits as a separate layer. Bonding agents permit effective bonding between the concrete and the substrate creating strong repairs.
Concrete repairing agents can be found in epoxy and polymer-based formulations. These repair agents are used to fix cracks, holes, and other damaged surfaces. The repairing agent is mixed according to the repair area.
Flooring agents, also known as flooring systems are a group of chemicals used to create residential, commercial, and industrial floors that are not only attractive but also durable. These agents consist of multiple layers including primers, coatings, and sealants. These agents are applied on the surface of the floor to create seamless, durable, and easy-to-clean surface.
Chemical flooring agents can be customised to get desired properties like slip resistance, chemical resistance, and aesthetic appeal. Flooring agents are best used for construction projects where high-quality flooring is used.
The anti-corrosive coating is applied over concrete and metal used in construction to protect the steel and iron from corrosion. This coating forms a barrier between the surface and the environment, keeping the corrosive elements at bay.
Zinc chromate, zinc oxide, zinc dust, lead chromate, and red lead are the most commonly used pigments. Factors like the climate and type of metal need to be considered when selecting appropriate anti-corrosive systems.
Construction chemicals are widely used to make the construction process easier, efficient, and durable. According to a forecast, the global construction chemicals market will be $48.9 billion by 2026. The advantages of construction chemicals include:
Construction chemicals are an integral part of modern construction industry. These chemicals are widely used to improve the durability, surface finish, compressive strength, and resilience of materials. There are several types of chemicals available for different requirements, such as concrete admixtures, tile adhesives and grout, waterproofing chemicals, protective and decorative agents, concrete repair agents, and flooring agents.
If you are interested in enhancing your construction projects, get in touch with us today! MCon Rasayan is a leading chemical suppliers in India.
