Concrete Cloth (CC) is a unique proprietary material that has recently been developed by Concrete Canvas. It has a very wide range of applications throughout the building and civil engineering industry.
CC 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 waterproof; while hydrophilic fibres on the opposite surface aid hydration by drawing the water into the cement. After hydration, CC hardens to a strong, durable, water proof and fire proof concrete surface.
The material can be hydrated either by spraying or by being fully immersed in water. Once hydrated the material is workable for 2 hours and remains flexible. It can be easily nailed, stapled through or coated with an adhesive, for easy attachment to other surfaces and has good drape characteristics allowing complex surfaces with a double curvatures to be produced.
Once set, the fibres reinforce the concrete, preventing crack propagation and providing a safe plastic failure mode.
After hydration, Concrete Cloth remains workable for 2 hours and hardens to 80% strength within 24 hours. Fast setting variants are in development.
Dry Concrete Cloth can be cut or tailored using simple hand tools. The PVC side can be supplied with an adhesive backing and bonds well to concrete or brick surfaces when set.
Concrete Cloth has good drape characteristics allowing it to take up the shape of complex surfaces including those with a double curvature.
The fibre reinforcement acts to prevent cracking, absorb energy from impacts and to provide a stable failure mode.
Concrete Cloth is a ceramic and will not burn.
The PVC backing on one surface ensures that Concrete Cloth is completely waterproof and chemically resistant.
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.
Concrete Cloth is chemically resistant, has good weathering performance and will not degrade in UV.
CC 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 CC can be used to surface runways as the material can withstand the high temperatures from jet engines during take off.
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.
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.
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.
CC can withstand very high temperatures and can be laid vertically to clad buildings with a hard, weather proof and fire proof outer skin.
CC 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.
CC can be laid by hand to rapidly provide a durable weatherproof 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 driving anchors or pegs directly through the cloth before it is set. It can be used as an alternative to Shotcrete, particularly if there is limited access for heavy equipment.
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.
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.
CC can be easily laid down by hand and enables a hardwearing smooth bike track to be rapidly created with the minimum of labour and equipment. CC is flexible enough to take up curves as well as straight sections of track.
CC has a huge range of DIY applications from paths, ponds and features, to emergency repairs.