14 Oct 2008
Spritzfil-cem® Chopped Strands Benefit from Owens Corning Alkali Resistant Technology to Bring Higher Performance and Productivity to Concrete Tunnel-Lining
AR Glass Fibers Provide a Flexible, Non-Corroding, Fire Resistant and Durable Reinforcement Solution to Aid Efficiency in Shotcrete Applications
BOLOGNA, Italy – October 15, 2008 – A concrete reinforcement development aided by Owens Corning (NYSE:OC), AR Spritzfil-cem®, is prominently featured in the company’s presentation at the SAIE 2008 International Building Exhibition which opened today at Bologna. AR Spritzfil-cem®, an alkali resistant (AR) glass fiber, is designed to bring all-round higher performance to the reinforcement of sprayed concrete in tunnel lining applications.
AR Spritzfil-cem® chopped strands were conceived as a competitive alternative to traditional steel and polypropylene fiber reinforcements, and to deliver a solution to the next-level performance demands of the underground and tunneling construction market. In Italy this sector is estimated to consume 30,000 tons of reinforcement fibers annually. To develop the AR reinforcement, Owens Corning worked together with industry customer Salerno-based ReCC – Rebar and Concrete Composites, the technical departments of several universities and a laboratory specialized in concrete technology.
According to ReCC General Manager, Nello Giamundo, “Glass fiber concrete reinforcements are already making a positive contribution to the production and performance of above ground applications in the construction industry. Along with Owens Corning, we believed that with the necessary tailoring they could deliver the same benefits and advantages to the underground and tunneling sector.”
Towards that end the new AR Spritzfil-cem® chopped strands development was based on the same Owens Corning alkali resistant glass fiber technology that has delivered the very successful Cem-FIL® and Anti-Crak® alkali resistant glass fibers. Products that offer an advance on traditional steel and polypropylene fiber reinforcements by bringing longer life, greater application flexibility, durability and higher performance, and in many cases lighter weight, to concrete and cement applications that include panels, floorings and façades.
“Our particular focus for the development was the fiber reinforcement for shotcrete, the sprayed concrete used to line and reinforce tunnel interior surfaces to prevent spalling,“ says Andrea Brucato, Sales Leader, OCVTM Reinforcements Italy. “With a property profile that includes tensile strength higher than that of steel and a much greater modulus than polypropylene, AR Spritzfil-cem chopped strands have a highly competitive fit in this application.”
The benefits offered by AR Spritzfil-cem® reinforcement include:
o Good mechanical performance characteristics such as crack and impact resistance,
o Excellent workability with productivity and safety advantages,
o Non-corroding material,
o Up to 20% less rebound than alternatives, resulting in lower fiber and concrete usage,
o Less spray pump maintenance required and reduced hose wear.
Industry standards for specifying sprayed concrete are well developed and therefore to ensure compliance, concrete reinforced with AR Spritzfil-cem® chopped strands have been tested by Italy’s Geoconsult S.r.l. and certificated as meeting the requirements set by engineering and construction companies. An added confirmation comes from the excellent results being reported by the first customers to use the new product.
Owens Corning is located in Hall 19, Booth A206/B257- B259 at the SAIE 2008 International Building Exhibition, Bologna, Italy, October 15-18.
With the acquired Saint-Gobain reinforcements and composite fabrics businesses, Owens Corning Composite Solutions now has more than 40 production facilities in 16 countries and more than 9,000 employees.
Reader enquiries
Owens Corning Composite Solutions BusinessOwens Corning World Headquarters
One Owens Corning Parkway
Toledo, Ohio 43659
United States
+1 419 248 5939
www.owenscorning.com
Notes for editors
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune 500 company for 54 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $5 billion in 2007 and 18,000 employees in 26 countries on five continents. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.
