- Q.Can polypropylene fiber
additives (such as Fibermesh) be used instead of welded
wire mesh in concrete slabs?
A.A lot depends upon what kind
of reinforcement you need.
Polypropylene fibers can help reduce the initial
shrinkage which occurs in concrete during the first
two days of curing. But these fibers do not permit
wider spacing of control joints over what is
specified for unreinforced concrete. If the
concrete does crack, the fibers will not hold the
pieces in alignment as well as welded wire mesh.
The fibers should not be counted on to resist
stresses due to extreme temperature change or as a
replacement for any steel 1/4 inch in diameter or
larger.
Other fibers, such as nylon, alkali-resistant
glass, and steel can provide significant gains in
strength, but the mixes and applications should be
carefully designed by an engineer.