Polypropylene fiber

Polypropylene fiber description

Polypropylene fiber also known as polypropene or PP fiber is a reinforcing additive used in the lightweight concretes ptoductions and construction elements. Such as foam concrete blocks (clc bricks) and polystyrene concrete blocks.

Polypropylene fiber manufacturing

Polypropylene fiber mades from polypropylene. It is a thin matte white fiber. This type of fiber is produced by forcing a hot mass of polypropylene through very small holes. After thermal drying, the resulting fibers are cut into pieces of the required length and a special chemical treatment is performed, which further contributes to the uniform distribution of the fiber in the foam concrete.

Polypropylene fiber features

The structure of polypropylene fibers acts as a reinforcing additive. Fiber connects the parts of the monolithic structure of lightweight concretes and protects them from destruction under the influence of pressure and deformation. The experience of using this reinforcing material has proved that polypropylene microfibers make the amount of microcracking much less and do not allow them to go into the cracking stage, and also contribute to compaction at the microstructural level. All this affects the aesthetics of finished concrete structures and products and their durability. In recent years, polypropylene fiber, as the cheapest reinforcement technology in construction, is gradually replacing metal and plastic reinforcement cages.

Eco-friendly and PP fiber

Polypropylene is an absolutely neutral and environmentally friendly material. Due to this, polypropylene fiber is used as an additive in the construction of all types of buildings, regardless of their purpose.

Polypropylene fiber application

This additive can be used in concrete and foam concrete of various types and densities, waterproof plaster mixes, in the production of cement-sand screeds, for monolithic wall filling, in the construction of houses and technological buildings.

Polypropylene fiber is recommended for the production of clc blocks of various types from foam concrete. It is also used for monolithic filling of walls made of foam concrete.

Fiber kneading technology

In order to combine fiber with cement and sand in the production of foam concrete, a foam concrete machine and water are needed. There are several ways to mix the mortar. We generally recommend the following technology:

• First, the fiber is soaked in water. This can be done in conjunction with a plasticizer. This is done in order for fiber to accept and absorb the required amount of water.
• Then a foaming agent is poured into the foam concrete machine, water is added in accordance with the proportions, and a ready-made solution of fiber with a plasticizer is added.
• The mixer is switched on for the foam generation.
• And then cement and sand are added.

It is not recommended to violate this order. It will be difficult to work with too thick a solution, and an excessively liquid one will shrink, become brittle and crack quickly. When a small amount of material is required, mixing can also be done with a hand mixer. Fiber consumption for foam concrete depends on the purpose for which the solution will be used. Usually, 700 grams of polypropylene fiber is required to 1 cubic meter foam concrete manufacturing.

Fiber packaging and packing

Polypropylene fiber can be packaged in bags of 600 grams or less. These bags are packed in a large bag with a total weight of 24 kilograms.
Such packaging makes it possible to economically consume this additive when added to building materials at the production stage.