# Construction chemicals

Admixtures, waterproofing, tile adhesives, sealants and repair mortars that make concrete stronger and buildings drier; a $46 billion market led by Sika.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/

Specialty chemicals · Industrial & consumer specialties · No. 88

- Product family
- Feedstock: Minerals and salts
- not published as a world tonnage; admixture dosage is 0.2-2.0% of cement mass (EFCA model EPD 2024) against about 3.8 billion t of cement (USGS 2025e)
- 0.5 t CO₂e per t
- HS 382440
 Specialty chemicals · Industrial & consumer specialties · Foundation · Matter

A dash of superplasticiser, under 2% of the cement, lets builders make stronger concrete with less water and less cement.

Chart: Illustration: Construction chemicals

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

PCE superplasticisers are made by joining a polyethylene glycol chain, built from ethylene oxide, to acrylic acid; a 40% solution needs about 0.25-0.4 t of macromonomer per tonne.

##### Three things to know

1. Sika, the leader, sold CHF 11.2 billion in 2025 at an 18.4% EBITDA margin, despite double-digit falls in China.
2. A superplasticiser adds about 0.5 kg CO2e per kg, a small price for cutting the water and cement in a mix.
3. In India, waterproofing is a branded consumer product, and Pidilite's revenue grew 11.8% to Rs 14,553 crore in FY26.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Petrochemicals**Ethylene oxide, acrylic acid, VAE, bitumen
2. 2 **Polymer synthesis**PEG macromonomer copolymerised with acrylic acid
3. 3 **Local formulation**Tuned to each region's cement and sand
4. 4 **On site**Dosed into ready-mix, precast and mortars
5. 5 **Buildings**Stronger concrete, dry roofs, tiled floors

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/links/index.md)