Concrete is one of the world’s most popular building materials, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. PrimeKss has created steel fiber reinforced self-stressing concrete (SFRSSC) technology called PrīmX, which PrimeKss uses to build jointless concrete floors that stay flat and stable for their entire lifetime.
Despite its ubiquitousness in the construction industry, concrete has several significant downsides. One is its environmental impact—concrete is responsible for approximately 8% of all global CO2 emissions—and the other is concrete shrinkage.
Concrete is made by mixing cement with water and materials like sand or gravel before being poured into molds. As the concrete dries, water evaporates, causing shrinkage. If preventative steps aren’t taken, concrete shrinkage can lead to curling, cracking, and widening joint gaps, which shorten the project’s lifespan, increase maintenance costs, and create safety issues. To prevent these issues, cement masons and concrete finishers often use expansion joints, add more aggregate content, and try to control moisture content as the concrete dries.
PrimeKss says it has solved both these problems by making PrīmX concrete with “chemical compressive self-stress,” which means that chemical reactions within the concrete cause it to expand as it hardens. This internal compressive stress enhances the concrete’s strength and durability. These chemical reactions create a material that’s stronger and stiffer than conventional concrete without the need for preventative measures like expansion joints.
PrimeKss says that their proprietary concrete material also offers stabilization without laying rebar reinforcements. “Large dosages of the highest quality steel fiber reinforcement are used to restrain the chemical expansion of proprietary admixtures. Steel fibers accommodate flexural and shear reinforcing, and structures can be made completely without traditional rebars.”
The resulting product offers several benefits over traditional concrete, including higher load-bearing ratings, efficient jointless structures, and watertight and gastight material. The increased strength and load-bearing capacity of PrīmX makes it a more environmentally friendly option. Because the material is stronger, companies need less of it, which PrimeKss says can save up to 70% of the CO2 emissions associated with concrete.
PrīmX’s strength, convenience, and durability have attracted big-name customers, including Swedish retail giant IKEA and leading agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere. To learn more, visit https://primekss.com/.
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