OPTEVA® TDA®

A Family of Strength Enhancing Cement Additives

Product Description 

OPTEVA® TDA® Quality Improvers are a family of cement additives that improve the strength or other performance characteristics of cement. They are aqueous compositions of grinding aids with set accelerating, water reducing or strength enhancing compounds, all carefully controlled and accurately blended for constant quality and optimum performance.

Product specifications for the most widely used OPTEVA™ TDA® formulations are as follows:

  S.G. pH
OPTEVA® TDA® J 1.22 (±0.01) 6 - 8
OPTEVA® TDA® N 1.21 (±0.01) 8 - 10
OPTEVA® TDA® 710 1.34 (±0.02) 8 - 10
OPTEVA® TDA® 770 1.17 (±0.01) 8 - 10
OPTEVA® TDA® 1223 1.15 (±0.05) 6 - 8
OPTEVA® TDA® 7014 1.03 (±0.02) 9 - 12

Product specifications for other OPTEVA® TDA® formulations are available through GCP Field Engineers.

Product Advantages 

One of the key benefits of OPTEVA® TDA® additives is their ability to increase both the grinding efficiency and cement strengths to a degree unequalled by conventional grinding aids.

  • Increased early and long-term compressive strengths for the production of better quality cements.
  • Reduced cost of cement production through reduced unit grinding costs and through replacement of clinker with reactive additions such as pozzolans, blast furnace slag and fly ash, or with fillers such as limestone.

The chemical action of OPTEVA® TDA® additives decreases the interparticle attraction between cement grains both in dry form and in water, and increases the rate of hydration of cements. Additional advantages of OPTEVA® TDA® additives include:

  • Increased grinding efficiency resulting in increased mill output, higher cement fineness and reduced unit power input and grinding costs.
  • Increased workability (flow) of cement mortars and concretes.
  • Increased cement flowability for reduced pack set or “silo set” of cements, resulting in lower handling costs and reduced waste.

Applications of OPTEVA® TDA® 

Laboratory mill evaluations of clinker and other additions are recommended to determine initial blend proportions, grinding efficiency, pack set index, mortar flow and compressive strengths of cements to enable GCP to formulate the most effective OPTEVA® TDA® product for each condition.

Handling 

OPTEVA® TDA® additives are sprayed into the mill’s first compartment or added onto the clinker conveyor belt. Suitable dispensing pumps with adjustable flow rates should be used for accurate dosing and for optimum performance of OPTEVA® TDA® .

Addition Rates 

Dosage rates of OPTEVA® TDA® can differ significantly (from 0.03% to 0.3%) depending upon the particular formula being used. Field Engineers can provide an estimate of the optimal dosage for any individual OPTEVA® TDA® product, but in all cases, the actual addition rate should be determined in cement mill tests.

Dosing Equipment 

OPTEVA® TDA® additives should be accurately proportioned through a calibrated dosing system, suitable for the cement mill and output required.

Specification Compliance 

OPTEVA® TDA® is approved for use under the ASTM C465 specification as a non-harmful processing addition for cement.

Packaging 

OPTEVA® TDA® is supplied in 210 L (55 gal) drums. OPTEVA® TDA® may also be supplied in bulk in certain locations. It contains no flammable materials.

Storage 

Protect from freezing. However, if freezing should occur, the product should be thawed out slowly and re-mixed thoroughly prior to use.

Shelf life is minimum 12 months in manufacturer’s containers.

Technical Services 

Field Engineers from GCP are available to assist in laboratory and mill test evaluations of OPTEVA® TDA®. Complete testing equipment and methods for analyzing mill performance are also available during plant trials.

Performance of Selected Products in the OPTEVA® TDA® Family

Products Typical Range g/t Typical Dosage g/t Contribution to Cement Cl g/t Cement Flowability Packset Grinding Aid Water Demand Setting Time Compressive Strength 1-3 Days Compressive Strength 28 Days
OPTEVA® 
TDA® J
1000–2500 1500 0-200 *** *** ** = *** */**
OPTEVA® 
TDA® N
1000–2500 1500 100 *** ** *** (+) ** **
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 710
1000–2500 1500 180-450 *** *** = (-) **** =
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 770
1000–2500 1500 180 *** *** = (-) *** =
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 775
1000–2500   300 *** ** = (-) **** =
OPTEVA® 
TDA®1223
300–600 400 0 **** **** = (-) */** ***
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 1227
1000–2000 1500 180 *** ***/**** = (-)/= **/*** **/***
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 7014
150–400 250 0 **** **** = =/(-) */** ****
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 7519
250–500 350 0 **** **** = =/(-) */** ****
OPTEVA® 
TDA® 7525
1000–2500 1500 0-150 *** *** **** =/(+) * =

Indication based on Typical Performance = Unchanged (-) Decrease (+) Increase * Improvement ** Good Improvement *** Strong Improvement **** Very Strong Improvement

Comparative Results of the Efficiency of OPTEVA® TDA® vs a Competitive Product (in industrial tests)

Objectives:OPTEVA® TDA® 7014 – Typical Performance Data

Additive Product xyz OPTEVA® TDA® 7014 Product xyz OPTEVA® TDA®  7014
Clinker 86% 86% 86% 86%
Gypsum  5% 5% 5% 5%
Limestone  9% 9% 9% 9%
Cement Additive Dosage 0.20% 0.04% 0.18% 0.04%
Mill number  3 3 3 3
Mill Production 13.1 17.2 21.2 28.8
Energy consumption (kWh/t) 62.8 47.7 38.7 28.5
Blaine (cm2/g)  4200 3950 3530 3160
40 µ residues 7.0 3.4 15.3 12.0
Compressive Strength (MPa)
1 Day
18.3 18.1 12.5 11.5
Compressive Strength (MPa)
3 Days
31.2 33.1 26.9 28.2
Compressive Strength (MPa)
7 Days
38.8 44.6 34.1 38.2
Compressive Strength (MPa)
28 Days
49.1 57.4 45.8 51.7
Concrete Water/cement ratio 0.60 0.56 0.62 0.59
Slump 16 16 17 17
Compressive Strength (MPa)
1 Day
9.9 10.2 8.4 8.2
Compressive Strength (MPa)
3 Days
- - - -
Compressive Strength (MPa)
7 Days
26.2 29.4 22.0 25.7
Compressive Strength (MPa)
28 Days
32.9 39.1 29.0 32.3

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We hope the information here will be helpful.  It is based on data and knowledge considered to be true and accurate, and is offered for consideration, investigation and verification by the user, but we do not warrant the results to be obtained. Please read all statements, recommendations, and suggestions in conjunction with our conditions of sale, which apply to all goods supplied by us. No statement, recommendation, or suggestion is intended for any use that would infringe any patent, copyright, or other third party right.

OPTEVA TDA is a trademark, which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries, of GCP Applied Technologies, Inc. This trademark list has been compiled using available published information as of the publication date and may not accurately reflect current trademark ownership or status.

© Copyright 2018 GCP Applied Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. 

This document is only current as of the last updated date stated below and is valid only for use in the United Kingdom. It is important that you always refer to the currently available information at the URL below to provide the most current product information at the time of use. Additional literature such as Contractor Manuals, Technical Bulletins, Detail Drawings and detailing recommendations and other relevant documents are also available on www.gcpat.uk. Information found on other websites must not be relied upon, as they may not be up-to-date or applicable to the conditions in your location and we do not accept any responsibility for their content. If there are any conflicts or if you need more information, please contact GCP Customer Service.

Last Updated: 2022-11-24

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