Teräskuituja

Teräskuituja are thin, individual strands of steel used as reinforcement in concrete or other composite materials. They are typically produced by drawing steel wire through a die to reduce its diameter, and then cutting it into short lengths. The length and diameter of the fibers can vary depending on the intended application.

The primary function of teräskuituja is to improve the mechanical properties of the material they are mixed with. In concrete, they significantly enhance tensile strength, flexural strength, and toughness. They also help to control cracking, particularly plastic shrinkage cracking that occurs during the early stages of hardening. This leads to a more durable and resilient final product.

Teräskuituja are commonly used in applications such as industrial floors, bridge decks, precast concrete elements, and shotcrete. Their use can sometimes reduce or eliminate the need for traditional steel reinforcement like rebar, simplifying construction and potentially lowering costs. The effectiveness of teräskuituja depends on factors like their dosage, aspect ratio (length to diameter), and how uniformly they are dispersed within the matrix. Different types of teräskuituja exist, including hooked-end fibers, crimped fibers, and straight fibers, each offering specific advantages in terms of anchorage and distribution.