SOLACHROME™ Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete

All pigments used conform to the requirements of ASTM C 979 Pigments for Integrally Coloured Concrete. Specified Colours can exceed the LEED v4 building material Solar Reflectance (SR) requirement of 0.33 or greater. This can allow coloured concrete to contribute to earning LEED credits in the Heat Island Reduction category: Non-Roof for all BD+C categories.

Infrared reflective mixed metal oxide pigments.

2 years from date of manufacture.

Keep unopened, moisture free, and below 80°C (175°F).

SOLACHROME™ Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete is designed to have minimal effect on concrete plastic and hardened properties, and to minimally interact with other concrete admixtures. Additional water, about 5% of the SOLACHROME™ Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete used, may be needed to compensate for water absorbed by the pigments. This amount of water will be less if water reducing admixtures are part of the mix design.  As all chemical admixture interactions cannot be predicted, always test final mix designs with actual materials to be used, and perform a jobsite test sections as described later in this bulletin.

Preferred Use Procedures
SOLACHROME™ Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete can be introduced at any point in the concrete mixing process, as long as enough mixing and time is given for the colour to reach an unchanging uniform appearance. Typically, this will take at least 5 minutes and 130 drum revolutions at mixing speed. Care must be taken to not allow material to hang on mixing vanes or collect in spaces where the mix has limited motion.

Do not use with chloride based accelerators.

Each 18.9 L pail of the new Easy-Dose™ technology is designed to colour one m³ of concrete containing 213–300 kg of cement. Concrete with higher cement content will require proportioned increases of SOLACHROME to achieve the intended colour.

Factors Influencing Final Colour, Appearance, and Solar Reflective Properties
Colours represented on the SOLACHROME™ Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete colour chart SICT-CC depict samples of smooth finished concrete made with medium grey or white cement and cured with SCOFIELD® Cureseal-W™ Concrete Curing Compound and Sealer. The final colour, appearance and solar reflective values, (SR), obtained on the jobsite will be influenced by concrete composition, surface finishing technique, and curing compound/sealer selection.

Concrete composition variations that can impact colour and SR, (solar reflectance), include cement type and colour, aggregate selection, and the use of pozzolans such as slag or fly ash. Differences in sealer or curing compound type, such as water or solvent based, or if no sealer is used, can also influence final appearance and SR.

Finishing techniques will influence final concrete appearance. Different tools such as wood floats, magnesium trowels, hard steel trowels, brooms, and edging tools, will each influence colour, surface texture, sealer penetration, and final cured concrete appearance differently. Do not change tool types once work has begun.

Changes in water content and water-to-cement ratio, both in the mix and on the concrete surface during finishing, can influence the final surface colour. Mix designs that develop excessive bleed water can float non-uniform cement/pigment ratios, and cause uneven or weak colouring. Once mix designs are established, do not add water to alter concrete plastic properties.

Do not add water to loosen partially cured loads. Do not use “watering” sprinklers as coloured concrete cures, or use wet brooms and tools while finishing. Any of these will likely result in inconsistent concrete colour.

Placement and Finishing Tips
As freshly placed concrete cures, its colour will vary with differences in surface moisture. Concrete curing in shaded areas or in the center of large slabs will surface dry slower than those exposed to sunlight or closer to form edges. This can cause colour variations that will often fade with time. Avoid high salt aggregates that can cause efflorescence that can make colour irregular. These visual differences can be long lasting, and raise questions about the quality of the concrete placement. Use SCOFIELD® Cureseal-W™ Concrete Curing Compound and Sealer to avoid these problems and deliver jobs that are uniform in colour and appearance. Always evaluate composition and finishing techniques as described below.

Jobsite Test Sections

Prior to large scale production, the concrete or cementitious mix design for each colour to be produced must be made. Conduct small scale testing to demonstrate concrete from the mix design meets all slump, flow, air content, compressive strength, and any other required concrete specifications.

Prior to general jobsite use, representative Jobsite Test Section(s) or “Mock-Ups” must be produced and approved for each individual concrete colour mix design, surface finish/texture, and for each curing compound/sealer combination that will be created.

Use Jobsite Test Sections to verify entire system suitability including frame/mold and foundation preparation methods, surface concrete specification compliance, finishing techniques, safety procedures, and achieved performance of the fresh and fully cured concrete. When applicable, test completed systems for wet and dry slip resistance. Evaluate polishing or coating application techniques, final colour, and visual appearance. Do not proceed with products, techniques, or finishing systems that do not meet required specifications or meet with site owner approval.

Selected Jobsite Test Sections should be in close proximity to the larger job area, and made from the same concrete mix design that will be used on the larger project. Test sections should be sized to be representative of the finished project, and be produced by the same workers who will perform the project installation.