The modern market of building materials does not stand still. Even in such plain building material as concrete, novelties appear. The new type of concrete - fibrobeton has appeared in pursuit of the improved properties and quality.
What is fibrobeton?
Fibrobeton represents construction fine material which key component is the reinforcing filler. Not so long ago, for giving to normal concrete of durability, decrease in fragility, have begun to add various fibers to it, evenly distributing them on concrete weight. It has led to number of considerable improvements of properties of concrete. It has been reached: increase in durability to 30%, resistance to physical activities has considerably increased, cracks also began to be formed less often.
Today distinguish two types of fibrobeton, proceeding from the reinforcing substance filling it:
- Metal - the filling material in such concrete is the steel having various sizes and the form.
- Nonmetallic - the fillers which are not concerning metals are applied. It can be: acrylic, glass, polyethylene, carbohydrate, basalt and many other materials. Concrete which part glass is nazyvtsya - steklofibrobeton.
The reinforcing structure of fibrobeton
The most widespread fibers for reinforcing of concrete are metal and glass fibers. But the fiber on polypropylene basis begins to enjoy the increasing popularity. Basalt and carbon, in view of the cost, widely are not applied.
Also in fibrobeton often add cotton, viscose and nylon fibers to steel reinforcing. It gives to material specific properties, and the ready design receives properties, much the best, unlike normal concrete.
Technical characteristics of fibrobeton
Characteristics of such concrete directly depend on the used materials. Let's give properties of the most used types of fibrobeton.
The most widespread filler is the steel fiber. The increased durability to loadings is inherent to such concrete, it does not form cracks after long life cycle and has the minimum coefficient of shrinkage. Also, such fibrobeton has the long operational term, big density and excellent durable qualities. Has excellent resistance to environmental activities, such as: low and high temperatures, the increased humidity.
Enjoys a little smaller popularity fibrobeton on the basis of fiber glass. In this concrete such property as elasticity prevails. But in the alkaline environment, such material quickly collapses. Therefore have begun to add special fillers on the basis of alumina which connects alkali to it and under the influence of corrosive alkaline medium of destruction does not occur. Thus the wonderful structure which is not subject to big temperature differences, high humidity and having excellent mechanical qualities turns out.
Advantages and shortcomings of fibrobeton
As well as all construction materials, fibrobeton has both advantages, and shortcomings.
Treat advantages of material:
- Reduction of expenses, at construction since installation of the reinforcing framework or grid is not required.
- The high efficiency is reached.
- Considerably smaller expense of parent material.
- The long term of operation, even after the termination of life cycle.
- Possession of high qualities of adhesion.
- Wide range of application.
- Excellent qualities to atmospheric actions, therefore, its application is possible in any weather conditions.
- The increased durability, in comparison with ordinary type of concrete.
It is possible to carry only one minus to shortcomings of material, it is high cost, in comparison with traditional material. But this shortcoming is quite compensated by high wear resistance and durability of fibrobeton.
Range of application of fibrobeton
Proceeding from the aforesaid, thanks to technical characteristics, this construction material has won huge popularity. Its began to apply in designs which demand the increased durability and also in places with the aggressive environment. The designs built their fibrobetona happen both household, and industrial character. Depending on use of initial material, there are various ranges of application of structure.
So, fibrobeton on the basis of steel, has found the application at production of the following designs:
- bases, coverings of bridges, cross ties, strips of coastal protection;
- tunnels;
- roads, sidewalks, runways;
- walkway slabs and borders;
- frameworks of designs and monolithic constructions;
- drainage channels, mines of wells for the sewerage, dams, water treatment systems and other designs.
- Fibrobeton on the basis of fiber glass is irreplaceable for production:
- noise-protective protections;
- waterproofings of treatment treatment plants;
- decorative products;
- finishings of facades of inhabited and industrial rooms;
- fences and other products.
Manufacturing techniques of fibrobeton
Fibrobeton can be made as at manufacturing enterprises, and directly on construction site.
Industrial production of fibrobeton
Solution production process directly depends on the choice of necessary qualities of material. Let's consider technology fabrication stages of fibrobeton for production of plate from stalefibrobeton in production facility.
The concrete manufacturing techniques, in the course of preparation, provide simultaneous supply of mix for concrete from the concrete mixer and fibers which arrive from the device for their cutting. Thanks to simultaneous giving of concrete mix and the reinforcing fibers on the tape drive mechanism, there is uniform mixture of these components. Adjustment of dosing happens thanks to correctly adjusted supply of mix and the reinforcing material.
Further, mix, with the reinforcing material which is already available in it, comes to special forming capacity, for uniform weight deposition and giving of the necessary form to future product. After full hardening of weight, the product is taken from form then it is completely ready for further operation.
The plates from fibrobeton made on the above technology have the increased durability, frost resistance, water tightness and high resistance to corrosion.
For optimization of production of fibrobeton, the huge role is played by use of special additives, so-called softeners. Their addition in composition of solution considerably improves plasticity of weight, and increases quality of finished product. Also use of softeners control concrete hardening time, and regulate coefficient of shrinkage of concrete mix.
Production of fibrobeton on construction site
There are several method of manufactures of such concrete. The compounding of production of fibrobeton is quite simple. Further we will provide the short instruction for production of stalefibrobeton directly on construction site, with the subsequent its application.
The first stage mix dry sand with filling brick, then enters necessary quantity of the fibers sifted through special sieve. At the next stage add cement, and after hashing fill in with water with softeners. Then thoroughly knead the turned-out mix before formation of homogeneous concrete mass, for this purpose it is necessary to use the concrete mixer.
Ready fibrobeton fill in in forms. It is necessary to wait for full hardening of concrete, as a rule, on it about three days leave. Further products are taken from forms for the subsequent drying which is carried out in the open air. Thus receive the blocks manufactured of fibrobeton with ideal operating ability.