Re ROCKCRETER OPTIMIX 1.5, Operator'S Manual, Page: 7 / 24

OPERATORS MANUAL
FOR
ROCKCRETER OPTIMIX 1.5
PAGE 3
3.1 Materials
1. Among the commercially manufactured materials available in today’s
market are materials for structural repairs, floor toppings, high strength
non-shrink grouts, special linings and other specialty materials.
2. Each of these materials has unique characteristics, which must be well
understood to insure a successful application.
3.2 Flow
1. In general, most materials need to be a flowable or pourable
consistency for successful pumping. This means that if the material can
be poured out of a pail or bucket, it can likely be pumped.
2. The exception to this requirement is repair mortars, which tend to be
mixed in a thicker consistency and require special pumping techniques.
3. Materials that contain aggregates pump best and perform best when
the consistency is kept to the lower range of pourable, that is, not too
wet.
3.3 Setting Time
1. Some materials contain accelerating admixtures to reduce the setting
time. This is particularly true of repair mortars and other spray applied
materials so that strength gain can be fairly rapid. It is important to
keep moving when using these types of materials.
2. Once the material is mixed, it must be pumped immediately and kept
in motion and subsequent batches must be mixed and pumped as
rapidly as possible. Any delays in the application process could result
in plugged hoses and equipment.
3. Temperature also has an effect upon these materials to the extent that
exposure of the hose to the sun on a hot day will accelerate the set
time even more, therefore this should be avoided. It may even be
necessary in some cases to cool the material, the mix water, or even
the hose itself.
3.4 Pumping Distance
1. Pumping distances should always be kept to a minimum, and hoses
should run as straight as possible no matter what material is being
used.
2. Sometimes circumstances require longer than usual hose lengths,
when this occurs, every effort should be made to use every advantage
possible to insure a successful application. Some materials simply
cannot be pumped for long distances, so it’s best to know the