Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

April 24, 2020

Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) comprises hydration products of cement, or cement plus sand, and the glass fibers. Glass fibers are used are used as reinforcement for concrete.

Glass fibers were first used to reinforce cement and concrete in Russia. It is available in the form of continuous rovings, chopped strand mats, cranette, wool, ropes and woven fabric. It is coated with epoxy resin compounds have also been tried out to protect them from alkali attack by Portland cement.

Glass fiber, few microns in diameter can be added up to 5% by weight premixed with cement and water in a pan or a paddle mixture. Glass fiber has to be of 10mm to 50mm in length. Small quantities of lubricating admixtures, such as polyethylene oxide or methyl cellulose may be added into the mix.The products can also be produced either by extrusion or by injection-moulded process.

Tensile strength can be increased roughly two times by addition of glass fiber of 10% by volume and that impact resistance by 10 times.

Uses of glass fibers in concrete is very limited because they suffer severe damage and loss of strength due to abrasion and impact forces generated during movement of aggregates in mixer.

Glass fiber reinforced concrete can be used for building renovation works, water and drainage works, bridge and tunnel lining panels, permanent formwork method of construction, architectural cladding and acoustic barrier and screens. It is mainly used in exterior building façade panels.

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