"I need a UHPC building product with a minimum compressive strength of 310 MPa / 44960 psi, it should be easy, mouldable and flexible to process without special machinery".
That was the requirement of a very special customer. We had already received and developed a similar requirement over 20 years ago. Special requirements are placed on us every day, but such extreme requirements and a corresponding demand of several hundred tonnes were already exceptional.
Here is a comparison with other standard building products:
Low Carbon Steel (e.g., A36): Low carbon steels, such as ASTM A36, typically have a compressive strength in the range of 250 MPa to 400 MPa. These steels are commonly used in construction and structural applications.
Austenitic Stainless Steel (e.g., 304, 316): These alloys are generally not very strong in terms of compressive strength and typically have compressive strengths in the range of about 200 MPa to 500 MPa.
Fiber-Reinforced Composites Composites reinforced with fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, or aramid fibers can have very high compressive strengths. The compressive strength of these composites can range from 100 MPa to over 1,000 MPa, depending on the type and orientation of the fibers, the resin matrix, and the manufacturing process.
Particulate-Reinforced Composites Composites that use particles or powders as reinforcements, such as metal matrix composites (MMCs) or ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), can have compressive strengths ranging from 100 MPa to 600 MPa or more, depending on the type and volume fraction of the particles and the matrix material.
Natural Fiber Composites Composites made from natural fibers like hemp or flax combined with a resin matrix typically have lower compressive strengths, usually in the range of 20 MPa to 200 MPa.
Normal Strength Concrete (NSC) Typically, ordinary or normal strength concrete used in most construction applications has a compressive strength in the range of 20 MPa (about 2,900 psi) to 40 MPa (about 5,800 psi). This is suitable for most residential and commercial structures.
WPE-DK UHPC Dia 300 is a fibre reinforced castable UHPC concrete with a compressive strength of more than 300 MPa (about 43,500 psi) after 28 days. It is mixed in a pan mixer.
