Concrete Cloth (CC) is a unique proprietary material that has been developed for a very wide range of applications throughout the building and civil engineering industry. By adding water, Concrete Cloth hardens to become a strong, durable, water proof and fire proof concrete surface.
Due to recent development, sea water may now be used to hydrate Concrete Cloth. Concrete Cloth consists of a 3-dimensional fibre matrix containing a specially formulated dry concrete mix.
A PVC backing on one surface of the cloth ensures the material is completely water proof, while hydrophilic fibres on the opposite surface aid hydration by drawing water into the cement. The material can be hydrated either by spraying or by being fully immersed in water. Once hydrated the material remains flexible and workable for 2 hours. It can be easily nailed, stapled through or coated with an adhesive for easy attachment to other surfaces. Once set, the fibres reinforce the concrete preventing crack propagation and providing a safe plastic failure mode.
Rapid
After hydration, Concrete Cloth remains workable for 2 hours and hardens to 80% strength within 24 hours. Fast setting variants are currently being developed.
Easy to use
Dry Concrete Cloth can be cut or tailored using simple hand tools.
Flexible
Concrete Cloth has good drape characteristics allowing it to take up the shape of complex surfaces including those with a double curvature.
Strong
The fibre reinforcement acts to prevent cracking, absorb energy from impacts and to provide a stable failure mode.
Durable
Concrete Cloth is chemically resistant, has good weathering performance and will not degrade in UV.
Water proof
The PVC backing on one surface ensures that Concrete Cloth is completely water proof and chemically resistant.
Adaptable
Concrete Cloth is currently supplied on 1.1m wide rolls but can be manufactured with a roll width of up to 5m. The cloth can be produced in a range of thicknesses from 5-20mm.
Fire proof: Concrete Cloth is a ceramic and will not burn.
CC Applications
Concrete Cloth was originally developed to provide the hardened skin for the award winning Concrete Canvas Shelters. There is also a wide range of other applications for which the cloth can be used.
Sandbag defences
The British Army is currently using Concrete Cloth to upgrade frontline sandbag defences in Afghanistan. The Cloth has been proven to prevent the degradation of sandbags from incoming fire, outgoing muzzle flash and environmental exposure. Ballistic testing has been conducted up to .50" calibre munitions.
Concrete Cloth significantly enhances the lifespan of sandbags under sustained fire: "a GPMG LR was placed at a range of 300 metres from the walls and fired 400 rounds of 7.62mm to simulate a concentrated enemy attack, the Concrete Cloth wall performed well with little fill loss and offered greatly improved performance over plain sandbags". -feedback from UK military testing in Afghanistan.
Gabion defences
Trials have been conducted in conjunction with the British Army to assess the effectiveness and ease of reinforcing existing gabion basket defences with Concrete Cloth (CC). The gabion trials concluded that CC was a rapid means of providing longer term repair and reinforcement to gabion defences, particularly if the geotextile has degraded substantially, significantly increasing their effective life span.
Landing surfaces
Concrete Cloth can be anchored down by driving ground anchors directly through its surface. It will contain fuel spills and prevent dust clouding from helicopter rotarwash. A thicker variant of Concrete Cloth can be used to surface runways as the material can withstand the high temperatures from jet engines during take off.
Boat ramps
Concrete Cloth can be rolled into the water and will set underwater (even in sea water). It rapidly sets to provide a surface with good traction. Multiple layers can be pegged together to form stronger ramps.
Rapid road surfacing
CC can be used to rapidly create pathways or road surfaces for people or vehicles by laying the cloth over soft ground in remote areas to provide a hardened track way.
Ditch lining
CC can be rolled out to rapidly form a hardened water proof concrete ditch lining; it can
conform to curves and most ditch profiles and requires no specialist plant equipment.
Formwork
CC can be used to rapidly produce sacrificial formwork for pouring large volumes of cement. It can be used to form complex shapes with double curvature on site.
Spill containment
CC is very durable and both concrete and PVC have excellent chemical resistance. CC is
ideal for lining containment bunds or landfill sites to prevent the leaching of hazardous
chemicals.
Water proofing
CC can be used to provide a durable, water proof and structural lining for applications such as ponds or swimming pools. It is highly resistant to puncturing unlike conventional membrane systems and can be laid as a damp proof layer under floors or behind walls.
Building cladding
CC can be laid vertically to clad buildings with a hard, weather proof and fire proof outer
skin.
Erosion control
CC can be laid by hand to rapidly provide a durable weather proof surface for reinforcing banks or unstable earthworks, both above and below the waterline. It can be transported in man-portable lengths that can be fixed to the ground by anchors or pegs. It can be used as an alternative to Shotcrete, particularly if there is limited access for heavy equipment.
Roof repair
CC can be easily and quickly laid to conform to the shape of any roof using staples and
nails. It can be fixed in severe weather conditions to provide a tough and extremely durable surface that is completely water proof.
Water or septic tanks
CC can be used to form tanks that can be folded up for transport and then inflated and set on site. The Cloth forms both the structure and water proof layer and is thus much easier to transport and install than conventional PP tanks.
DIY applications
CC has a huge range of DIY applications from paths, ponds and features, to emergency
Repairs in disasters such as hurricane Katrina.