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Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Fiberglass Reinforced Concrete
Introduction: Fiberglass is
used to manufacture a variety of things that we use
in our homes every day. It is also used in the
manufacturing of boats and even airplane
components. Fiberglass
that is used in most home products is really
fiberglass reinforced plastic, also defined as
glass fibers in a polymer mixture.
For
construction projects fiberglass is used with
cement and sand to make fiberglass reinforced
concrete. It is used to make concrete products such
as ornamental, concrete structures, domes, planters
and fountains. It can also be used for concrete
countertops and decorative panels.
The benefit of fiber reinforced concrete is that
its weight is much less than regular concrete by as
much as 75 % in some cases. This reduces shipping
costs and gives the concrete a very high
strength-to-weight ratio and can be used to make
complex shapes because it is reinforced internally.
It can also be sprayed into forms and molds which
makes a better finished product because there is
less chance for air bubbles to form. It also does
not crack as easily as regular cement and does not
chip when it is cut.
Hand sprayed glass fiber reinforced concrete can be
sprayed into molds. Most pre-cast panels and
ornamental pieces are made by using a direct spray
method. Premixed fiber reinforced concrete can be
poured into a water tight mold and then the mold is
vibrated to get the desired consolidation within
the mold. Spraying premixed fiberglass reinforced
cement with chopped fibers already in the mix gives
you a better strength than regular reinforced
concrete.
Decorative ornaments are sprayed in two layers. The
first layer is the backing that contains the fibers
and the layer that is visible is a thin layer of
concrete only.
The technique of using fiberglass in place of stone
to reinforce concrete is not new. In the early days
the mixture lost strength over time because the
alkaline in the concrete broke down the silica in
the fiberglass. The technique of using fiberglass
was improved by the mid nineteenth century and is
now used widely in construction. Fiberglass is
commonly used in industrial home floor and
foundation wall construction. You can easily tell
if fiberglass reinforced concrete was used in your
home by closely examining the surface of the
concrete. You will be able to see the fiberglass
imbedded in the concrete. If you wet the surface
with water it will be more obvious.
When you order concrete from your local premixed cement company they usually ask if you want a regular stone reinforced mixture or a fiber reinforced mixture. I recommend that you select the fiber mixture as it is easier to work with and is much lighter and much stronger than stone reinforced concrete. It is also less likely to crack over time which makes it great for patios and garage floor construction.
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