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November/December 2009 Vol. 9 No. 7
Technology
PVA Fibersby Stacey Enesey Klemenc High-performance fibers made of PVA, which is short for polyvinyl alcohol, were developed some 20 years ago by Kuraray, a Japanese company. When added to concrete or mortar, the fibers develop a molecular and chemical bond with the cement during hydration and curing. The result: concrete with high tensile strength and amazing ductility whose makeup can significantly reduce a project's steel load. "Polyvinyl-alcohol engineered cementitious composite, PVA-ECC, was developed to be used in high-rises for earthquake remediation because it eliminates vertical sheer," says Jim Glessner, owner of GST International LLC, a Nevada-based company that manufactures as well as distributes an array of specialty concrete...
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