New Concrete Cloth Offers Form & Flexibility

Millikan's new concrete cloth, a cement mix wrapped in fabric that can be laid and cured in a variety of circumstances and weather conditions, recently premiered in North America. The flexible material can follow the natural contours of the land, including ditches and slopes, for simplified installations.

South Carolina-based firm Milliken recently debuted a flexible fabric that allows for concrete installations on slopes, in water, and in other hard to reach places "?u without the need for molds or mixing.

Concrete Cloth contains a cement mix trapped in a layer of fabric, which is backed with a waterproof membrane. The fabric is can be laid on the ground, hung vertically, or cut and formed into shapes.

Contractors wet the fabric to activate the cement, which cures to 80 percent strength within 24 hours. The fabric structure reinforces the concrete and reduces cracking, while using up to 95 percent less concrete than conventional methods.

Unlike regular concrete, this system can be installed in the rain and other wet conditions, virtually eliminating the need to reschedule installation due to inclement weather. Available in a variety of sizes, Concrete Cloth comes in portable rolls that two men can carry, reducing the need for heavy machinery on site.

"With Concrete Cloth, we can leverage all the benefits of concrete but eliminate its key limitations, making it easier for both public and private entities to address maintenance and repair issues quickly, cost-effectively and more sustainably," said Sim Skinner, president of Milliken Performance Products.

The material has a low alkaline reserve and a low wash rate, creating a low ecological impact. It meets many ASTM and other standards and is resistant to chemicals, weather, wear, and UV.