Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete

Researchers also have found that the properties of concrete can be greatly improved by adding fibers of various kinds, including those made of steel, glass, and carbon-based polymers. One type of fiber concrete—called slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON). which is tough enough to be used to make missile silos and can be formed into complex shapes—may be especially nsefnl for stmctures in earthquake-prone areas. 

D.R. Lankard, Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) , Conor. Int. 6 (12), 1984,... 

D.R. Lankard, Slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIECON) properties and applications , in J.F. Young (ed.) Mry High Strength Cement-Based Materials, Proc. Materials Research Society Symp., Vol. 42, Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 1985, pp. 277-286. 

P. Balaguru and J. Kendzulak, Flexural behavior of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIECON) made using condensed silica fume , in V.M. Malhotra (ed.) FiyAsh, Silica Fume, Slag and Natural Pozzolans in Concrete, ACI SP-9i, American Concrete Institute, Detroit, Ml, 1986, pp. 1216-1229. 

A special type of this material is called SIFCA slurry infiltrated fiber-reinforced castable. This is a composite material of ceramic matrix with calcium aluminate cement and with aggregate made of aluminum oxide, mullite, zircon and calcined fireclay. The matrix is reinforced with stainless-steel fibres. SIFCA is used to made pre-cast elements for refractory structures, where temperature can rise up to 1100°C. Heat curing is often used during the pre-casting. Another kind of similar material is called SIMCON slurry infiltrated mat concrete in which arrays of single fibres are replaced by a system of steel mats for better and easier distribution of reinforcement (Murakami and Zeng 1998). 

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