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AQUARIUS

TECHNOLOGIESPRIVATE LIMITED India

VACUUM DEWATERING SYSTEMA high quality concrete floor or pavementrequires not only to be level but it shouldalso have high wear resistance, highcompressive strength, reduced shrinkageand minimum water permeability.THE CONCEPTThe TREMIX method, pioneered byTREMIX AB, SWEDEN and introduced byAquarius in India in 1987, is a system forlaying high quality concrete floors withsuperior cost-effectiveness. Aquariussubsequently entered into a technical

collaboration with TREMIX AB, in 1991 tostart production of Vacuum System inIndia.The key to the use of this method is thedewatering of concrete by vacuumprocess. Surplus water from the concreteis removed immediately after placing andvibration, reducing the water : cementratio to an optimum level. Therefore,adopting the TREMIX method facilitatesuse of concrete with better workabilitythan what is normally possible.A lowered water : cement ratioautomatically leads to a noticeableimprovement in almost each of theconcrete properties.

THE OPERATION

In order to obtain a high quality concretefloor using this method, it is essential tofollow the various operations in the correctsequence. Initially, poker vibration isessential, especially at the panel edges.This results in proper compaction of theconcrete and hence elimination of voidsand entrapped air.

Poker vibration never really gives alevelled surface. It is therefore essential tocombine this vibration with surfacevibration (screeding), in order to obtain avibrated concrete with a levelled surface.Two passes with surface vibrator arenormally recommended.

The Surface Vibrator is guided by twomen, standing on either side of the panel.Vacuum dewatering process removessurplus water always present in theconcrete. This is done using the VacuumEquipment comprising of Suction Mat TopCover, Filter pads and Vacuum Pump. Theprocess starts immediately after surfacevibration.

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Filter pads are placed on the freshconcrete leaving about 4 inches of freshconcrete exposed on all sides. The TopCover is then placed on the filter pads androlled out till it covers the strips of exposedconcrete on all sides. The Top Cover isthen connected to the vacuum pumpthrough a suction hose and the pump isstarted.Vacuum is immediately created betweenthe filter pads and the top cover.Atmospheric pressure compresses theconcrete and the surplus water issqueezed out. This process lowers thewater content in the concrete by 15-25%.

The dewatering operation takes approx.1.5 - 2 minutes per centimeter thickness ofthe floor. The dewatered concrete iscompacted and dried to such an extentthat it is possible to walk on it withoutleaving any foot prints. This is theindication of concrete being properlydewatered and ready for finishing.The finishing operations - Floating &Trowelling take place right afterdewatering. Floating operation is donewith Floating disc. This ensuresaftermixing of sand & cement particles,further compaction and closing the poreson the surface. Floating operationgenerates skid-free finish.

Trowelling is done with Trowelling bladesin order to further improve the wearresistance, minimize dusting and obtainsmoother finish. Repeated passes withdisc and blades improve the wearresistance substantially.

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AQUARIUS

TECHNOLOGIESPRIVATE LIMITED India

VACUUM DEWATERING SYSTEMWhy only TREMIX method?

SCHEMATIC SHOWING VACUUM DEWATERING PROCESS

To Vacuum pumpAtmospheric pressure

Floor to bedewatered Capillaries that bring out excess water

Suction Mat of special grade multilayered polymer sheets alongwithreinforced distance cushions on the Filter Pads ensure sufficient cross-sectional area to squeeze out and remove excess water from the concrete.This design is a prerequisite for effective dewatering.

INCREASED COMPRESSIVESTRENGTH ELIMINATION OF CURLING

IMPROVED WEAR RESISTANCE

Wear in mm

Floated and Trowelled

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