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Shotcrete, simply put, is spray-applied concrete. Concrete is pumped through a hose and projected at high velocity onto the desired surface. There are two methods of shotcrete application, dry (also called gunite) and wet. With the dry method, the dry ingredients and water are not mixed until they reach the nozzle of the hose, where […]

Synthetic fibers have long been known to provide temperature-shrinkage crack resistance and post-first crack toughness to concrete and have been incorporated as secondary reinforcement in concrete since the late 1970’s.  However, synthetic fibers have continued to evolve since their birth and advancements made with newer generations of synthetic fibers allow for greater enhancement to the […]

PLACING: Synthetic, steel, and blended fiber reinforced concrete can be placed using conventional methods such as concrete chutes, buckets, conveyors, and pumps. Whereas, Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete (FRS) can be placed using standard shotcrete equipment. WORKABILITY: The slump of concrete is NOT an indicator of workability. Instead, the slump is used to measure the consistency of the concrete […]

Our first article (Ready Mixer News Memo Feb./Mar. 2015 issue) in this important series explained the Fiber-reinforced Concrete (FRC) sampling procedure, including some of the most critical points of test specimen fabrication. This issue’s article continues the series with details of the proper testing process, along with a review of approved fibers from the ABC Polymer stable […]

Which method is best when writing specifications for fiber-reinforced concrete? This article provides the historical, testing and physical property related data — plus more — that leads to the reasoning behind ABC Polymer’s preferred method of writing fiber reinforced concrete specifications. Fiber Reinforced Concrete History — Micro Beginnings Synthetic Fibers as reinforcement for concrete were […]

In this and the next issue of Ready Mixer News Memo, we will provide a Fiber Reinforced Concrete Test Primer for ready mix professionals, engineers, contractors, and commercial laboratory personnel. Part 1 in this issue includes: A sampling of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC)/Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete (FRS) Fabrication of FRC/FRS test specimens. Part 2 in the next […]

Bulk Bags or FIBC fabrics are all about controlling static electricity, which is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. When bulk bags are rapidly filled and discharged, the flowing movement of finely powdered substances can cause a buildup of static electricity. Removing or preventing an electrical charge is […]

In this article, we will review an acceptable approach to adjusting concrete mixes with high dosages of Macrosynthetic Fibers, such as ABC Polymer’s FiberForce 650™, Performance Plus DOT™ and Macro-Pro™, are used as reinforcement in the concrete at dosage levels from 3.0 to 11.0 pcy. The Basics When we talk about a standard concrete mix design […]

Macrosynthetic Fibers Increase Project Profitability Over Conventional Temperature-Shrinkage Control When using conventional WWF (welded wire fabric) or #3 & #4 rebar for temperature-shrinkage control Structural Engineers sometimes use a one-size-fits-all approach on projects to minimize the potential for the field crew to place the wrong reinforcement system in a cross-section. However, the Structural Engineer may […]

Many costs, convenience, and safety factors must be considered when determining the best type container for storing, shipping and protecting your company’s valuable product(s). Here are the Seven Reasons to Use Bulk Bags Rather Than Drums or Boxes: Drums/barrels do not collapse when empty. Drums take up as much space when shipped to your warehouse and when […]