What is the difference between loose and collated fibres?
The main reason for collating fibres together with water soluble glue is to improve the fibre integration into the concrete without forming balls. The same effect can be achieved by using the right integration tools, but of course at additional costs. While dissolving, a small part of the glue will become water, which may have a minor influence on the W/C ratio and on the shrinkage behaviour of the concrete. The glue contains also a certain amount of air entraining agents, leading to air contents around 4 to 6%. The customer should therefore pay attention when using collated fibres in combination with extra air entrainer as this might result in excessive air content, which can significantly reduce the concrete strength, make concrete pumping more difficult and disturb the surface aspect of industrial floors through upcoming air bubbles.
