Everyone’s pointing fingers at Type IL cement, but what if your admixtures are the real problem?

In this episode, Dr. Jon Belkowitz returns to the Concrete Logic Podcast to challenge the one-to-one replacement myth and shine a light on the role of admixture compatibility. If your concrete is failing early—or your team is just managing problems instead of solving them—this episode is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn:
- Why do so many people still believe Type IL is a one-to-one replacement?
- What’s the real impact of outdated admixtures on today’s cement?
- How do compatibility tests help prevent concrete failures?
- Why are some producers thriving with Type IL while others are falling behind?
- What questions should ready-mix suppliers be asking their admixture reps?
- Are outdated specifications setting projects up to fail before they start?
- How is complacency contributing to early-age concrete failures?

Chapters:
- 00:00 – Dr. Jon Returns from a New Lab
- 01:28 – Is Type IL Really Here to Stay?
- 02:52 – “Type IL Is Here… Unless You’re Willing to Pay”
- 03:41 – It’s Not the Enemy—but It’s Also Not One-to-One
- 05:36 – We’ve Been Here Before: Lessons from Cement History
- 08:00 – Admixtures and Compatibility: What’s Changed?
- 09:49 – Why Some Ready-Mix Producers Are Struggling
- 11:40 – The Industry’s Selective Memory
- 14:33 – What We Used to Do (and Should Again)
- 16:20 – “The Cracks Just Go Away” – Really?
- 17:45 – Were the Specs Set Up to Fail?
- 20:27 – Complacency Is Killing Concrete
- 22:21 – Selling the 1:1 Myth
- 24:31 – Systemic Failure, Not Isolated Issues
- 25:48 – Admixture Air Issues, Surface Failures, and Octopus Talk
- 26:36 – Time to Rethink Our Admixture Strategies
- 28:41 – All Admixture Companies Can Help—So Why Aren’t We Asking?
- 30:09 – You Might Have a Problem…
- 30:30 – Are We the Third Generation Screwing It All Up?
- 31:58 – Final Message: Start With the Admixtures

Guest Info:
Dr. Jon Belkowitz
Director of Research, Intelligent Concrete
Email: jon@intelligent-concrete.com
Website: https://www.intelligent-concrete.com

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Credits:
Host: Seth Tandett

Producers: Matt Gross, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media

Music: Mike Dunton (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikedunton)

Connect with Us:
Host on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

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