Tarbela 4th Extension

Vertex Chemicals worked hand in hand with the contractor across the 4 year duration of the project. Firstly, the stringent requirements set by the client had to be met, over the course of several trials, to ensure that the chosen company can not only meet the technical requirements but also be able to deliver large amounts of material, consistently, over the entire duration of the project. After several months of on-site testing, complimented by client visits to our lab and production facility, the client was convinced that Vertex was the right partner for the project and decided to make us the preferred supplier.

In order to ensure that no cold joints are created in the prevailing hot weather conditions, our team leveraged our in-house lab and worked closely with the client to develop a novel product just for this project, called Naphthaplast F-707L. The product successfully tested for zero slump loss, after 45 minutes, with initial slump of 180mm, testament to Vertex Chemical’s R&D capabilities and the ability to adapt to the client’s needs in less time. The product was tested in the highest site temperatures, which reached up to 45 degree celsius and the product continued to perform.

As for high concrete pours, we provided pre-weighted V1/160 to achieve the strength requirements of over 10,000psi. Furthemore, in order for the client to achieve high strengths for certain concrete pours, we supplied Microsilica MS-95, with minimum 95% silica content, which is a pozzolanic material that enhances the strength if used to replace concrete by up to 15%.

In order to achieve the early strength requirements of shotcreting, our team provided a special 3rd generation PCE admixture called Carboplast E-3003. Being the sole manufacturer of PCE in the country allowed us to modify the material and create a product tailor made for the project, unlike any other supplier, all the while ensuring minimal cost. The admixture was added to the mix, along with our standard shotcreting admixture, Rockset C303. The combination ensured that the rebound was less than 10% at all times.

On top of meeting technical requirements, the intricacies of dam structures mean that many requirements can come unexpected and ability to improvise and adapt is very crucial. Many such requirements arise, for example due to changing weather conditions, material inputs etc. that require urgent attention. Our team was able to make prompt visits to the site and identify the matters on the ground. With the aid of our R&D team, we were able to make our suggestions immediately and any changes that were accepted were checked by the team to ensure their efficacy at a large scale.