HIGH GRADE

The economical alternative

to steel fbers and steel mesh.
Compressive strength 4
Flexural strength 5
Early shrinkage crack characteristics 6
Shrinkage characteristics 7
Water penetration capacity 8
Extraction characteristics 9
Fracture toughness and fracture energy 10
Sulphate resistance 11
Early strength 11
Fire resistance 12
Structural calculation 13
Application 14
Literature and sources 15
Advantages
The raw material
We use pure polyolefne for our Fibrofor High
Grade. This ensures absolute alkali resistance,
not only on the surface. The fber material is
chemically neutral (inert) and rot-proof, and its
water absorption rate is virtually 0%.
The fbrillated, bundled fbers and their
optimal distribution
During the sophisticated production process,
special attention is paid to precise fbrillation of
the fbers. The fbers are bundled and cut after
the actual production process. Fibrillation and
bundling allow optimal distribution throughout
the concrete matrix.
The rough surface
The surface fnish is deliberately selected to
obtain a rough surface. This, among other
things, also infuences
the extraction characteristics
We give high priority to the anchoring of our
Fibrofor High Grade in the concrete. The rough-
ness and fbrillation of the fbers greatly improve
the extraction characteristics.
the addition rate
1 kg of Fibrofor High Grade per cubic metre will
suffce to obtain optimal concrete reinforcement.
The feed rate can be individually matched to
special applications.
The fbrillation
The fbrillated, bundled fbers
The roughness of the surface
The fbrils
Quality advance
2 / 3
The compressive strength is slightly
infuenced by the addition of Fibrofor
High Grade and produces a marginal
change compared with base concrete.
It lies within the range of other fber
concrete of a conventional type.
Average compressive strength after 28 days in N/mm
2
Type of test specimen Concrete quality
Cube 150x150x150 mm
Compressive strength (N/mm
2
) 32 34 36
Plain concrete (without fibers)
With multifilament fibers
With Fibrofor High Grade
Type of test specimen Concrete quality
Bar 150x150x550mm*
Flexural strength (N/mm
2
)
Designation according to EN 206-1 C25/30 XC1/D
max

32/CI 0.20/F3
Designation according to EN 2061 C25/30 XC1/D
max
32/CI 0.20/F3
Plain concrete (without fibers)
With multifilament fibers
With Fibrofor High Grade
3 4 5
Compressive strength
* Third-point testing
The addition of Fibrofor High Grade
increases the fexural strength
appreciably (up to 28%). This
parameter is used for structural calcu-
lations and is country-specifc applied.
Average fexural strength after 28 days in N/mm
2
Type of test specimen Concrete quality
Cube 150x150x150 mm
Compressive strength (N/mm
2
) 32 34 36
Plain concrete (without fibers)
With multifilament fibers
With Fibrofor High Grade
Type of test specimen Concrete quality
Bar 150x150x550mm*
Flexural strength (N/mm
2
)
Designation according to EN 206-1 C25/30 XC1/D
max

32/CI 0.20/F3
Designation according to EN 2061 C25/30 XC1/D
max
32/CI 0.20/F3
Plain concrete (without fibers)
With multifilament fibers
With Fibrofor High Grade
3 4 5
Flexural strength
4 / 5
The signifcant parameter is deter-
mined in a test series with 6 bending
beams. The test specimens has a
measurement of 150 x 150 x 550 mm
(according to Fiber Concrete Guide-
lines Austria) and will be charged in
the third-point.
Total shrinkage crack lengths
Base concrete (without fibers)
Base concrete (without fibers)
with Fibrofor High Grade
with Fibrofor High Grade
1
2
1
2
Type of test specimen
Shrinkage ring: outside 590mm
inside 290mm
Concrete grade
High-grade concrete C50 / 60

620mm
420mm
24mm
110mm
Testing of the early shrinkage crack
characteristics by shrinkage ring
is based on the most stringent test
criteria. Investigations have shown
that fber concrete using Fibrofor High
Grade will reduce shrinkage cracking
by 85% compared with conventional
concrete types, which corresponds
to quality class FS2. This means that
fber concrete using Fibrofor High
Grade has a higher concrete density
with minimum micro-cracks and that
an earlier utilization of building
structures can be expected.
Early shrinkage crack characteristics of fber concrete class FS2 (testing time 5 hours)
Early shrinkage crack
characteristics
Fibrofor High Grade is capable,
among other things, of improving
the shrinkage characteristics of the
fresh concrete during the early setting
phase. This is one of the crucial char-
acteristics of High Grade fbers. In this
case, the application of fbrillated High
Grade fbers is advisable because its
advantages allow concrete shrinkage
to be minimised. Investigations have
shown that the addition of 1 kg of
Fibrofor High Grade per cubic metre
of concrete will allow values to be
achieved which would otherwise
require twice the amount of other
fber types. It must be noted,
however, that such an increased
fber addition rate may appreciably
reduce the compressive strength.
1
300
200
100
2 0 3
0
4 5 6 7 8
S
h
r
i
n
k
a
g
e

c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
(

)
Time in days (t)
1 2 0 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time in days (t)
S
h
r
i
n
k
a
g
e

c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
(

)
300
200
100
0
300
200
100
0
Plain concrete Fibrofor High Grade
1
300
200
100
2 0 3
0
4 5 6 7 8
S
h
r
i
n
k
a
g
e

c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
(

)
Time in days (t)
1 2 0 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time in days (t)
S
h
r
i
n
k
a
g
e

c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
(

)
300
200
100
0
300
200
100
0
Fiber concrete
Fiber concrete with Fibrofor High Grade and plain concrete, fber addition rate 1kg/m
3
Fiber concrete with conventional, fbrillated fbers and plain concrete, fber addition rate 1.8 kg/m
3
Shrinkage characteristics
6 / 7
Plain concrete
Fibrofor High Grade reduce the water
penetration depth in the concrete
body. The test specimen was based
on a concrete formulation with
aggregates 0/16, 350kg/m3 CEM
I 32.5 plus 0.9% plasticiser. The
water-to-cement factor was 0.38. The
compressive strength determined
was 59.3N/mm
2
for base concrete
and 66.2N/mm
2
for fber concrete us-
ing Fibrofor High Grade (test
pressure 0.8 MPa).
Type of test specimen Water penetration depth
Cube 150x150x150 mm
Plain concrete (without fibers) 2.20 cm
with Fibrofor High Grade 1 kg/m
3
1.75 cm
The chart shows that the water
penetration depth will be reduced by
over 25% when Fibrofor High Grade
is added.
Water penetration capacity
The reinforcement fbers must be
embedded and anchored in the
concrete matrix so that the positive
fber characteristics will be retained
under structural loading. Monofla-
ment fbers with a smooth surface
offer this characteristic only to a
certain extent. On the other hand,
this is one of the very areas where the
special design features and the better
technical
values of Fibrofor High Grade have
their full effect. Extensive scientifc
investigations show that Fibrofor High
Grade offers optimal extraction
strength and extraction characteristics.
The fgures show the directions of the
force and the distribution of the forces
under tensile stressing and illustrate
the benefts of fbrillated High Grade
fbers.
Extraction characteristics
Fibrofor High Grade
Monofilament fiber
8 / 9
Fracture toughness and
fracture energy
Fiber concrete has a very good fracture
toughness. Investigations have shown
the fracture energy of concrete using
Fibrofor High Grade to increase by as
much as 240%. As a result, cracking
of the concrete which is a very brittle
construction material due to soil
movements can be minimized.
at an age of
Plain concrete (without fibers)
with multifilament fibers
with Fibrofor High Grade

0.56 J
1.26 J
1.89 J
0.90 J
1.81 J
2.80 J
1.04 J
2.11 J
3.58 J
3 days 7 days 28 days
Type of test specimen
Cube 150x150x150 mm
Fracture energy (up to fracture)
of the equivalent flexural tensile strength test
Sulphate resistance /Early strength
Sulphate resistance
When used in conjunction with
sulphatecontaining substances,
concrete reinforced with Fibrofor
High Grade offers better technical
parameters than other fber concrete
types. Its advantage over plain
concrete is even substantial.
Early strength
Just like conventional fber concrete,
concrete reinforced with Fibrofor High
Grade also has an increased early
strength. This advantage can be
economically exploited especially in
slip-forming applications and in the
prefabrication industry as well as
otherwise in concrete construction
applications.
Plain concrete (without fibers)
with multifilament fibers
with Fibrofor High Grade

Solution I Solution I I
5.84 100%
6.40 110%
7.24 124%
* 4.24 73%
6.04 103%
6.45 110%
4.44 76%
6.47 111%
6.52 112%
Solution III
Type of test specimen
40x 40 x 160mm
Average flexural tensile strengths
N/mm
2
measured after the following baths
on air-dry specimen
No. of the test specimen
Plain concrete (without fibers)
with multifilament fibers
with Fibrofor High Grade

1 2 3
3.8
4.6
4.7
3.7
4.6
4.9
3.8
4.5
4.6
3.8
4.6
4.6
Type of test specimen
Cube 150x150x150mm
24-hour compressive
strength (N/mm
2
)
Mean
value
Sulphate resistance
Early strength
* This value (100%) is used as the basis for comparing the other equivalent fexural tensile strength values.
10 / 11
Fire resistance
In the event of fre, due to the rapidly
rising temperatures, such high
stresses arise that it is not possible for
conventional concrete to withstand this
vapor pressure. Spalling and even the
breakdown of the construction can be
the consequence.
With the addition of about 2 kg/m
3
Fibrofor High Grade the concrete
has a higher permeability. In the
event of a fre the melting point of
approx. 160C causes the fbers to
melt. The result is a capillary network
in the concrete and the water vapor
that is produced can escape.
12 / 13
Structural calculation
Structural calculations according to
EC 2 prove that with the use of Fibrofor
High Grade various structural elements
do not need any more conventional
steel or steel mesh reinforcements.
It is also possible to signifcantly
reduce the steel reinforcement
requirement by combining reinforce-
ment components (Fibrofor High
Grade and steel).
Proven reductions of construction
steel offer extremely interesting cost
savings for our customers.
We would be pleased to present
you an alternative to conventionally
reinforced concrete for your building
project. Our civil engineers calculate
using a state-of-the-art dimensioning
software based on fnite element.
Application
Industrial floors
Domestic buildings

Pavement in concrete
Retaining walls
Concrete walls
Power stations
Bridge construction
Waste water treatment plant
Prefabrication industry
Shotcrete
cycling tracks
Compressive strength, equivalent fexural tensile
strength, fracture toughness and fracture energy,
sulphate resistance, early strength, early shrink-
age crack characteristics
Construction industry engineering approval EMI AG,
Budapest, Hungary
Equivalent fexural tensile strength
Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt, MA39,
Vienna, Austria
Shrinkage characteristics
Zollo Report "Hardened Concrete Drying Shrinkage",
Prof. Dr. Zollo, ACI, Detroit, USA
Fire resistance
Fire load in the test facility of Hagerbach AG, Sargans
Investigation report MPA
Dortmund, Germany
Fiber concrete guidelines
Austrian Association for Concrete and Civil
Engineering, Vienna, Austria
Flexural strength and compressive strength
Test certifcation by Dr. Hartl GesmbH.,
stateaccredited test institution, Seyring, Austria
Water penetration depth
Akademia Rolnicza, Poznan, Poland
Literature and sources
14 / 15
Contact us.
0
7
/
2
0
1
3
Brugg Contec AG
Aachstrasse 11
CH-8590 Romanshorn
T +41 71 466 12 12
F +41 71 466 12 10
info@bruggcontec.com
www.bruggcontec.com