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Applications : Curtain Walls
Introduction
KURALON™ FRC (Fiber Reinforced Concrete) represents an innovation in concrete technology. By combining KURALON PVA fibers with an engineered cement mortar, durability, water-impermeability and fire-resistance are improved while weight is dramatically reduced.
KURALON™ FRC provides 2 to 5 times the tensile and bending strength, and 10 to 20 times the toughness and elongation of normal pre-cast concrete panels. This increased strength allows a reduction in panel thickness and a weight saving of 50 to 66% over traditional pre-cast concrete.
KURALON™ FRC has excellent workability characteristics, allowing spray-up, cast or self-consolidating techniques to be employed without sacrificing dimensional stability.
The fine, ductile fibers allow intricate castings, freeing the architect to use KURALON™ FRC for highly decorative panels.
KURALON™ FRC is compatible with a variety of finish types, including embedded colors, tile or stone surface treatments or resin-based paints.
KURALON™ for cement and mortar
KURALON™ PVA-reinforced concrete was developed and introduced in 1983. KURALON™ FRC is a fiber-reinforced mortar in which KURALON™ PVA fibers are mixed with lightweight engineered mortar at a volume of only one to two percent.
KURALON™ has demonstrated high alkaline and ultraviolet resistance with no signs of degradation or loss of strength over 20 years of evaluation.
Merits of KURALON™ FRC
Design freedom.
Adding KURALON™ to mortar allows designers to achieve complex and intricate designs.
Thin and light weight
KURALON™ FRC panels are typically cast one half to two thirds thinner than traditional panels, while offering dramatically higher tensile and flexural strength. This, in turn, reduces the building's seismic moment, total weight, and foundation requirements. In addition, the lighter weight makes installation easier.
High durability
The longevity of aluminum panels is reduced by corrosive urban pollution, acid rain and salt air. Traditional pre-cast concrete often cracks and spalls. Fiberglass AR-reinforced panels lose strength over time as the alkaline-rich cement attacks the glass reinforcement. The durability of KURALON™ FRC has been proven over twenty years of field and laboratory tests, including freeze/thaw and accelerated deterioration.
Fire resistance
KURALON™ FRC meets and exceeds all fire resistance requirements for building wall construction, and has been approved by the Japanese Minister of Construction.
Lowered cost
Lightweight, high performance KURALON™ FRC reduces the amount of concrete and steel required for the total building, allowing a reduction of the foundation size. These factors, plus lighter panels to install, help to reduce total labor costs and shorten project duration. |
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 St. Lukes Hospital with PVA-ECC cladding. |
Main characters of KURALON FRC Curtain Wall
Light weight
KURALON™ FRC has 1.5 to 2.5 times the tensile and bending strength of typical pre-cast concrete panels. This allows a substantial reduction in the cross-section of the panels, resulting in lower weight as indicated by the following table:
High tensile strength
KURALON™ FRC has mechanical properties superior to traditional concrete panels:
• Tensile and bending strength 150 to 250% greater
• Toughness and elongation is 10 to 20 times greater
Durability
KURALON™ FRC demonstrates excellent results in freeze/thaw and accelerated deterioration tests as follows (*4,5). Even in areas of extreme cold, KURALON FRC has shown no degradation of its mechanical properties.
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