What is GRFC and why are so many builders and designers using it?
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is the cutting edge of concrete material science. GFRC is an engineered material that contains cement, polymers, and glass fibers that are ingrained in the cementious matrix. The properties are influenced by the glass contents, mix design, and production process. GFRC produces an extremely lightweight yet durable material.
GFRC contains materials that, taken from the soil, have no adverse effect on the environment. Concrete’s components include Silica Sand, Portland cement and aggregate. In GFRC we introduce the component of glass fiber as well as other natural chemicals in order to produce a super strong and flexible material. Fabricating with the water based material produces no chemical off-gas or byproducts.
GFRC is a specialized form of concrete with many applications. It can be effectively used to create façade wall panels, fireplace surrounds, vanity tops and concrete countertops due to its unique properties and tensile strength.GFRC has been used for the past 30 years to produce many concrete products, everything from thin architectural cladding panels, to ornamental concrete such as statues, planters, and fountains.
Some of the many benefits of GFRC include:
Ability to Construct Lightweight Panels– Although the relative density is similar to concrete, GFRC panels can be much thinner than traditional concrete panels, making them lighter.
High Compressive, Flexural and Tensile Strength–
Due to the low water to cement ratio, GFRC compressive strength can be quite high. Tensile and flexible strength make it superior to ordinary concrete. The high dose of glass fibers leads to high tensile strength while the high polymer content makes the concrete flexible and resistant to cracking.