‘Hedgehog’ moulding
This hedgehog-like moulding was made merely to demonstrate new-er technology. Textile concrete is mostly about thin sheet-like products, which can be folded or curved. The hedgehog is about 3D castings. CemStrands, as are used in our textiles, are pre-weakened at any required length, dip coated with a cement slurry mix, broken off as coated fibres.
The fibres can be free fall blended with coated aggregate into a mould, and moulded to reach or exceed the fibre volume fraction associated with textile concrete.
The fibres seen protruding from the strand provide a key for matrices; they are bonded to the core yarn.
This alternative to textile concrete can be moulded at ambient temperature, to achieve physical properties similar to those associated with cast aluminium, for use at the coast or in the sea, with the corrosion properties associated with concrete... a development concept - enquiries are solicited.