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FORTA-FERRO®Strong as Steel!

FORTA-FERRO®FORTA-FERRO® is an easy-to-finish, color blended fiber, made of 100% virgin copolymer/ polypropylene consisting of a twisted bundle non-fibrillating monofilament and a fibrillating network fiber, yielding a high-performance concrete reinforcement system. FORTA-FERRO® is used to reduce plastic and hardened concrete shrinkage, improve impact strength, and increase fatigue resistance and concrete toughness. This extra heavy-duty fiber offers maximum long-term durability, structural enhancements, and effective secondary/temperature crack control by incorporating a truly unique synergistic fiber system of long length design. FORTA-FERRO® is non-corrosive, non-magnetic, and 100% alkali proof!

This patented fiber is actually a blend of two fibers:

  1. a standard fibrillated polypropylene fiber to reduce and control shrinkage and temperature cracking, and
  2. a very heavy-duty twisted-bundle monofilament fiber made of a strong synthetic copolymer, to increase load-transfer and post-crack performance. This pre-blended fiber is typically used in long lengths (2-1/4") and in high dosages (5 to 30 lbs./cubic yard) to affect a higher replacement level of reinforcing steel than standard synthetic fibers. FORTA-FERRO®, which means "Strong As Steel", is also extremely user friendly, having gained a reputation as the best mixing and finishing fiber of its kind in the industry.

APPLICATIONS

FORTA-FERRO® has been tested by scores of agencies, laboratories, and testing facilities in a wide variety of performance areas, such as toughness, impact resistance, flexural strength, and residual strength. FORTA-FERRO® has also been compared in residual strength (ASTM C-1399) to the major brands of steel fibers, resulting in an average replacement value of 1:10 (FORTA-FERRO®: steel fibers). FORTA-FERRO® has been involved in composite-product vacuum testing in precast tanks and boxes, and tested under crushing loads in vaults and manholes. This laboratory and real-world field testing has allowed FORTA-FERRO® to gain widespread acceptance and use in septic tanks, burial vaults, manholes, and other precast products where the reduction of steel and placement labor has resulted in a sizable savings to the producer. And FORTA-FERRO® has also been used in scores of flatwork projects as well to reduce and/or eliminate the need for reinforcing steel, such as streets, bridge decks, and manufacturing and commercial floors. Continuing research programs and pilot field trials are also being performed to investigate the possibilities of joint-space extension and reduction, due to the tremendous reduction in shrinkage and slab curling afforded by these high-volume, high-strength fibers.

INSTALLATION

Recommended dosage rate of FORTA-FERRO® is 0.2% to 2.0% by volume of concrete (3 to 30 lbs. per cubic yard) added directly to the concrete mixing system during, or after, the batching of the other ingredients and mixed at the time and speed recommended by the mixer manufacturer (usually four to five minutes).

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Materials: Virgin Copolymer/Polypropylene
Form: Monofilament/Fibrillated Fiber System
Specific Gravity: 0.91
Tensile Strength: 83-96 ksi. (570-660 MPa)
Length: 2.25" (54mm), 1.5" (38mm)
Color: Gray
Acid/Alkali Resistance: Excellent
Absorption: Nil
Compliance: A.S.T.M. C-1116