Kaytech has recently signed a distributorship agreement with Concrete Canvas to supply Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats into the South African civil engineering industry, including road and rail applications. Concrete Canvas is used specifically for the lining of culverts, channels, slope protection, and remediation of existing concrete structures.
What is Concrete Canvas?
Concrete Canvas® is part of a revolutionary new class of construction materials called Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats (GCCM). It is a flexible, concrete impregnated fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable, water proof and fire resistant concrete layer. Essentially, it’s concrete on a roll. Concrete Canvas® allows concrete construction without the need for plant or mixing equipment. Simply position the mat and just add water.
Concrete Canvas® consists of a 3-dimensional fibre matrix containing a specially formulated dry concrete mix. A PVC backing on one surface of the mat ensures the material is completely waterproof. The material is hydrated either by spraying, or by being fully immersed in water. Once set, the fibres reinforce the concrete, preventing crack propagation and providing a safe plastic failure mode. Concrete Canvas® is available in two thicknesses: CC5™and CC8™ , which are 5 and 8mm thick respectively.
Concrete Canvas User Benefits
Rapid Install
Concrete Canvas® can be laid at a rate of 200sqm/hour, up to 10 times faster than conventional concrete solutions.
Easy to Use
Concrete Canvas® is available in shorter rolls that are manageable by hand for applications with limited access. The concrete is pre-mixed so there is no need for mixing, measuring or compacting. Just add water.
Lower Project Costs
The speed and ease of installation mean Concrete Canvas® is more cost-effective than conventional concrete, with less logistical complexity.
Concrete Canvas® is a low mass, low carbon technology, which uses up to 95% less material than conventional concrete for many applications.
Concrete Canvas Key Properties
Water Proof
The PVC backing on one surface of the GCCM ensures that the material has excellent impermeability.
Strong
The fibre reinforcement prevents cracking, absorbs energy from impacts and provides a stable failure mode.
Durable
Concrete Canvas® is twice as abrasion resistant as standard OPC concrete, has excellent chemical resistance, good weathering performance and will not degrade in UV.
Flexible
Concrete Canvas® has good drape characteristics and will closely follow the ground profile and fit around existing infrastructure. Unset Concrete Canvas® can be cut or tailored using basic hand tools.
