What is Textile Concrete?
While almost any textile can be used, we mostly work with textiles made from polypropylene (PP) because it is hydrophobic. We developed and patented an autogenous bonding process (PP to PP) in which PP fibres are bonded to PP stretched tapes or filaments. CemStrands can be woven into textiles for use in concrete. Any load on the concrete will be transferred into the layers of textile; the product will deflect under that load, and pull itself back into shape after the load is removed.
As an example of use, the wind on a thin and therefore lightweight fascia panel can deflect the panel; when the wind drops it will return to its original shape. The panel contains no steel, and can be thinner than the cover required to prevent the corrosion of steel.
Textile concrete is ductile, tough, weather-resistant, durable. In South Africa it has been used in gold mines, some of which are two kilometres below sea level -- and on fascia panels as much as two kilometres above sea level. It has been used throughout Southern Africa, in the Islands of the Indian Ocean and the United Arab Emirates, in Oceania and in the Americas.
Textile concrete is a composite material; the cube testing method used for concrete is not appropriate. Textile concrete is thin and flexes away from the load during three-point bend testing. Individual fibre tests showed that fibres cut from spun and bonded yarns had unique properties. The method used for fibre testing has been adapted at the University of Cape Town (UCT), to enable textile concrete samples made or moulded with enlarged “dog bone” like ends to be tested in tension. This method is being further developed, and will form a part of a thesis on textile concrete to be presented to UCT during 2006.