Everyone, probably, had to hear the word "fiber concrete". What is this, you could not help but be interested. This material is a particularly durable type of concrete, which is reinforced over the entire area by reinforcing with metal and non-metallic fibers. The latter are called fiber.
What is fiber concrete
If you are interested in the question of what fiber is, then you should familiarize yourself with what it is. So, for the manufacture of fiber-reinforced concrete, a variety of materials are used, namely:
- steel wire;
- polypropylene fiber;
- polyamide;
- asbestos;
- carbon;
- polyester;
- viscose;
- polyethylene;
- basalt;
- carbon;
- acrylic;
- fiberglass;
- nylon and cotton threads.
The most common is steel fiber, it is pieces of wire, the diameter of which varies from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, while the length can be equal to the limit from 1 to 5 cm. Fiberglass is also quite common, because it has excellent technical characteristics .
Basalt and carbon fiber are more expensive, so they are not used so often. Fiber concrete, what it is, you should know if you plan to use it in construction, it can be made with the addition of viscose, nylon or cotton threads that are mixed with steel wire. This significantly reduces production costs and allows you to get material with different properties.
Core qualities
Fiber concrete has a number of distinctive characteristics, among them it should be highlighted:
- high tensile and tensile strength;
- resistance to atmospheric influences and chemical substances;
- lack of shrinkage;
- water tightness;
- high ductility;
- impact resistance;
- abrasion resistance;
- resistance to cracking;
- fire resistance;
- frost resistance;
- increased modulus of elasticity.
If you look at the fiber-reinforced concrete in a section, it will be a homogeneous structure, which is penetrated throughout the thickness by a thin fiber located in different directions. Depending on what type of fiber was used, the properties of concrete and the nature of inclusions will change.
Fiber-concrete characteristics depending on fiber
Fiber concrete, what it is, should be known to every specialist in the construction field, is a material whose properties vary depending on the quality of the fiber. For example, steel fiber, which is often used in the manufacture of concrete, gives the material increased tensile and tensile strength.
Such material does not shrink, does not become cracked during use and is characterized by durability. Among the additional advantages, we can distinguish wear resistance and strength. If you add steel fibers to concrete, the material will be waterproof, frost-resistant and heat-resistant. If you want to get a material with a high modulus of elasticity, you should add glass fiber. Concrete is plastic, but glass is not very resistant to alkaline conditions.
Concrete is additionally impregnated with polymers to increase the chemical resistance of the material. Alkaline binders are added to the ingredients during the manufacturing process. For this purpose, an alumina solution based on cement is used. The material will be characterized by high impact resistance, water resistance, heat resistance and abrasion resistance.
Fiber concrete, what it is, is interesting for every novice master, is a material to which asbestos fiber can be added. As a result, it is possible to obtain a durable, resistant to high temperature and alkali material, characterized by high strength. Material with such fiber is called asbestos cement. If we are talking about a filler in the form of basalt fiber, then this is a material with increased strength.
In some cases, polyethylene, polypropylene and other synthetic fibers are used. They are able to endow the material with properties such as high tensile strength, resistance to chemicals, resistance to critical temperatures. Fiber concrete does not conduct electricity. This kind of fiber reduces the weight of structures, which is important for some types of work.
Application
Fiber concrete, the use of which is quite common today, is used in many areas of construction and industry. This is ensured by high technical characteristics of the material. With its help, designs are made to which stringent weight requirements are imposed. It can be facilities for domestic and industrial use.
Steel fiber concrete, for example, is used for the manufacture of foundations, sleepers, shore protection strips, floorings and bridges. This material is used in the arrangement of industrial tunnels and floors. If you add steel fiber to the ingredients, then ultimately the material can be used in the construction of runways and road construction, as well as laying the sidewalk. Steel fiber reinforced concrete is also used as a high-strength coating. He goes to the manufacture of borders and tiles.
Additional area
Often such concrete is used in the construction of concrete monolithic structures and building frames. The properties of fiber-reinforced concrete with steel fiber allow it to be used in the construction of drainage shafts and canals of sewer wells, dams and water treatment tanks. A floor made of such material will be able to undergo high loads, which is necessary for the construction of agricultural and industrial buildings. Fiberglass concrete is an indispensable material when arranging noise protection shields that are installed along busy highways.
The material is used for waterproofing in the construction of water treatment plants. Suitable material for decorative finishes, because fiberglass concrete has not only strength properties, but also decorativeness. That is why it can be used for facade decoration of buildings. The surface of the material does not absorb dirt and is easy to clean.
The use of fiberglass concrete
If concrete will contain fiberglass in the composition, then products from it can be used for the manufacture of peaks, benches, fences, as well as other products. Basalt fiber allows you to make structures that will undergo high loads during operation. It is possible to make foundations, parking lots, concrete floors and road surfaces from such ingredients. Dams, railways, tanks and other structures can be equipped.
Polypropylene fiber is used for the manufacture of concrete, which is used in the manufacture of cellular concrete, lightweight structures and structures, as well as foam blocks. Viscose and cotton threads are used in foreign production of textile concrete.
Fiber concrete cost
Fiber concrete, the price of which can vary depending on the grade of material, has a certain fiber content per cubic meter. If this parameter is 30%, then the price of fiber concrete grade M-150 will be 3400 rubles. If the brand increases to M-200, then the price rises to 3600 rubles. You will have to pay 3,700 rubles for the M-250, while 3,800 rubles for the M-300. Fiber concrete grade M-350 is already 3900 rubles.
Some companies today offer fiber-reinforced concrete with different fillers, which you can pick up on your own or take the help of specialists in this matter. In the end, it will be possible to obtain a material that, for example, will have a higher impact strength, water resistance, tensile and shear strength.
The price of fiber concrete should not alarm you. It is so low for the reason that production technology is not too complicated. For manufacturing, it is only necessary to mix cement, sand, water and coarse aggregate by the type of crushed stone. Among the ingredients there will be a certain amount of dispersed fibers called fibers.
Characteristics of some types of fiber
Choosing this or that fiber for concrete production, you get a material with certain characteristics. For example, polypropylene fiber has a density of 0.9 g / cm 3 . The modulus of elasticity varies from 3500 to 8000 MPa. Tensile strength varies from 400 to 700 MPa. As for the elongation at break, it varies from 10 to 25%.
Basalt fiber has a higher density, which varies from 2.6 to 2.7 g / cm 3 . The modulus of elasticity varies from 7000 to 11000 MPa, tensile strength varies from 1600 to 3200 MPa. As for the elongation at break, it varies from 1.4 to 3.6%. Steel fiber has an even higher density, which is 7.8 g / cm 3 . The elastic modulus and tensile strength vary from 190,000 to 210,000 and from 600 to 3150 MPa, respectively. Elongation at break is 3 or 4%.
Whatever fiber is capable of increasing the performance of concrete, it ultimately has significant advantages over traditional concrete. Fiber concrete has not only light weight and high compressive strength, but also high frost resistance, as well as a rather long service life, which is 20 times more.
Fiber-concrete products: panels
Fiber-concrete products are used everywhere today. Among them, it is worth highlighting the panels, which are large-format thin structures reinforced with fiberglass over the entire thickness. They are used for facing facades, as well as for interior decoration. Fiber-concrete panels combine strength, fire resistance, formability, light weight and authentic appearance. Fiber concrete panels can be classified into:
- front;
- concrete panels;
- concrete siding;
- 3D fiber concrete;
- furniture;
- small architectural forms;
- molded concrete elements;
- interior concrete panels.
Additional panel features
Fiber-reinforced concrete panels have a large size and even geometry, which can be achieved as a result of a four-week production cycle. The technology involves mixing concrete of the right color, casting in the forms of five layers of fiberglass. Two of them are intertwined in a network, while the other three are arranged in a chaotic order. After a 28-day cycle of hardening of the material, the surface of the plates is processed, which gives the panels water-repellent properties.
Conclusion
What is fiber, you already know. It is a material used in the manufacture of fiber concrete. It, in turn, can be used for the manufacture of concrete fibropanels, which are fireproof. These products have passed fire tests and are able to withstand temperatures up to 350 ° C. You can also use fiber-reinforced concrete in construction, because it has all the necessary documentation for use in Russia.