Types of Fibers in Concrete
The term “fiber” or “fiber concrete” refers to a type of building material called fiber-reinforced concrete that incorporates several microscopic fibers. Concrete projects have more structural integrity when fibers are added because the likelihood of cracking or water seeping through the concrete is reduced. Several fibers can be used to strengthen concrete, with the significant advantage being increased security. Fiber concrete comes in various forms, including glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), carbon fiber reinforced concrete, steel fiber reinforced concrete, concrete made from polypropylene plastic, and even mixtures of fibers.
Forcetech uses fiber concrete in many of our concrete design projects; contact us if you need an estimate for a project including fiber concrete. Below is a description of the several types of fibers used in reinforced concrete, along with the advantages and disadvantages.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)
GFRC, commonly used in the construction industry, contains tiny glass fibers. The components utilized to create GFRC have various advantageous properties, including cement, water, sand, and glass fiber. Your chosen glass fiber will be alkali resistant. Fiberglass that is resistant to alkalis helps to stop absorption. The small weight and high level of strength of GFRC are advantages. These characteristics make it suitable for counters, wall panels, and the area surrounding fireplaces. Because the glass fiber adds strength, GFRC can use smaller pieces of concrete without reducing the amount of weight it can sustain.
Plastic Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Extremely lightweight plastic fiber concrete, like GFRC, has some of the same applications. Because plastic has a high degree of elasticity and will help to reduce or even eliminate any breaking, the properties of plastic fiber make it a perfect fit for the building industry. The type of plastic typically used in this fiber concrete form is nylon or polypropylene. Clothing and medical supplies are only two examples of the many things that employ the polymer polypropylene. In addition, plastic fiber concrete has the advantages of greater durability to extremely low temperatures and wear resistance.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete (CFRP)
To manufacture carbon fiber concrete, tiny pieces of carbon fiber are inserted into the concrete. Carbon atoms are fused to form carbon fiber. This specific concrete fiber has a combination of low weight, strength, and excellent chemical resistance. Concrete reinforced with carbon fiber has a very long lifespan and is less likely to become fatigued over time. Due to its durability and lack of corrosion can be used in industrial environments, even with high acidity. In addition, the salt resistance of carbon fiber concrete allows for the prevention of seawater damage.
Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC)
Steel is a reliable and durable material for many applications involving fiber concrete. Concrete made of Forcetech’s steel fibers has the advantages of being very strong and providing excellent structural stability. The use of steel fiber concrete will decrease the effects of cracking. Steel fiber concrete offers benefits since it may be used in cold locations and can endure below-freezing temperatures. Forcetech’s steel fiber can preserve the integrity of its structure at very high temperatures because of its high melting point, making it helpful in industrial applications.
Mixture of Fibers
It is possible to blend particular fiber kinds to get the optimum form of fiber concrete. For example, although the light weight of the glass is tempting, some projects may also require a lot of strength. In this case, combining glass and steel fiber would be appropriate.
Forcetech Steel Fiber
For the reasons mentioned above, Forcetech is the best steel fiber company to work with for individuals or businesses searching for FIBMIX concrete flooring in KSA. We follow the guidelines established by the industry for the usage of steel fibers. Forcetech has the most qualified team to complete the “Forcetech FIBMIX” flooring project. We are prepared to offer excellent flooring services. We also provide jointless flooring, which, when combined with flooring that is strengthened with steel fibers, delivers exceptional performance.
