Polypropylene fibres may considerably reduce the danger of early shrinkage cracks.
By adhesion of water to the fibre surface, the process of desiccation is retarded, and the concrete strength may develop faster than the stress resulting from shrinkage.
Moreover, PP fibres have a significant influence on the behaviour of concrete components in fire. The fibres are characterised by a low melting point so that in case of a fire, pore volume is created. In case of a fire, sufficient space is thus available for the physically bound water to expand. Numerous tests have shown a substantial decrease of pop-outs on components reinforced by PM 6/15. In
Propylene fibre PM type
The PM fibre types consist of monofilament fibres mainly used for industrial floors and fire protection purposes.