Product Data Sheet Show all documents

Sika® Rugasol® FC

Liquid retarder for vertical concrete surfaces

Sika® Rugasol® FC is a gel retarder specially designed for the production of exposed aggregate finishes or for producing a mechanical key to construction joints, stop ends for subsequent rendering applications on vertical surfaces.

  • Sika® Rugasol® FC will only delay the ultimate hardening and do not “kill” the set of the cement.
  • When used correctly, Sika® Rugasol® FC will not stain concrete, even white concrete.
  • Sika® Rugasol® FC will not affect the bond of reinforcement to concrete if accidental splashing occurs, provided it is thoroughly cleaned with clean water.
  • Sika® Rugasol® FC is solvent free.
Product Data Sheet Show all documents

Usage

Sika® Rugasol® FC surface retarder is used to expose aggregate on formed Portland Cement based concrete surfaces. Sika® Rugasol® FC provides an efficient, economical method of obtaining a rough bonding surface without the need for hacking, chipping, or sandblasting. Sika® Rugasol® FC is also used to produce precast panels having a decorative architectural finish showing the colour and texture of natural aggregate. The aggregate remains whole and unbroken. Sika® Rugasol® FC is painted directly on formwork for walls, ceilings, vertical construction joints or any similar formed concrete surface.   Sika® Rugasol® FC dries on the formwork to a tough, but water-soluble film. Protect from rain. Forms may be coated before or after erection. Reinforcing steel is placed as usual. Sika® Rugasol® FC will retard the set of the cement paste by up to 6 mm (¼”) depth, the depth depends upon the thickness of the coating, the time elapsed before the retarder is removed, the cement content of the concrete and the quantity of water in the mix. The ambient temperature will also affect the depth of retardation.

Advantages

  • Sika® Rugasol® FC will only delay the ultimate hardening and do not “kill” the set of the cement.
  • When used correctly, Sika® Rugasol® FC will not stain concrete, even white concrete.
  • Sika® Rugasol® FC will not affect the bond of reinforcement to concrete if accidental splashing occurs, provided it is thoroughly cleaned with clean water.
  • Sika® Rugasol® FC is solvent free.

Packaging

205 liter drum

10 liter pail 

Colour

Whitish gel

Product Details

Product Information

Shelf life

Protected from direct sunlight and frost, the shelf life is 12 months.

Storage conditions

Store Sika® Rugasol® FC at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C, protected from direct sunlight and frost.

Density

Approximately 1.05 kg/l at 23º C

Application

Consumption

Consumption

Approximately  0.3 l/m2

 
Application steps

APPLICATION

Sika® Rugasol® FC is ready for use from the container. It should be stirred before use and must not be diluted.

Sika® Rugasol® FC may be applied to any type of clean form. Apply to heavy coat with a brush or roller, and allow to dry (normally 2 to 4 hours in mild temperatures). No mould oils should be on the forms. Coated surfaces should be protected from strong sunlight. Sika® Rugasol® FC dries on the formwork to create a tough, but water-soluble film that must be protected from rain.

Exposed aggregate: For optimum results forms should be removed as soon as possible after the concrete is poured, normally not later than one day in warm weather and up to 2 days in cold weather. If the forms must remain in place longer use two or even three coats of Sika® Rugasol® FC to ensure deep penetration. A mock-up of the construction element should be tested first to see if the outcome meets the requirements.

Cleaning off: Some of the soft cement paste will stick to the form when the shuttering is stripped; this can be removed easily while still soft from both the formwork and concrete by a light wire-brushing or with a high pressure water jet.

 

Always clean off immediately after stripping the shutters as the soft cement paste soon hardens, the concrete should be kept moist and cured as usual. It is advisable to undertake a small test in all cases prior to use, as cements and conditions of use can change from site to site.

When using untreated wood or porous forms for the first time we recommend a minimum of two coats of Sika® Rugasol® FC. This will impregnate the surface and aid in the uniform exposure of the aggregate. Form panels to be re-used may be scraped off and recoated with Sika® Rugasol® FC as soon as it is required.

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