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| Lafarge launches two new concrete products  Lafarge announces the launch of two new value-added concrete products, which represent a real scientific leap forward in the rapidly transforming construction sector: Extensia and Chronolia are Lafarge's new responses to the needs of construction professionals. Extensia and Chronolia are high-performance concrete products, which were developed thanks to the know-how of the Lafarge Research & Development teams and their advanced scientific knowledge of the behaviour of concrete at every stage of production, implementation and lifespan.Extensia and Chronolia improve construction site working conditions, with each product designed to meet a specific challenge in the building sector. Initially, these two value-added concrete products will be rolled out in France, the United Kingdom and North America. Chronolia combines two apparently contradictory features requested by customers: a concrete product that can be transported and handled like conventional fluid concrete, and which, once laid, very rapidly develops high mechanical strength. Chronolia responds to these two requirements: whereas between 12 and 20 hours are needed before formwork can be removed with conventional concrete, Chronolia becomes resistant in record time and formwork can be removed just four hours after manufacture. With the same workability as a conventional ready-mix concrete, it can be used on all construction sites, as well as to repair road surfaces and civil engineering structures, which means they can be brought back into service very rapidly. With such a rapid setting time, Chronolia makes it possible to reduce possible disruption caused by construction sites and increase efficiency and productivity. It also means that it is possible to rethink the organization of a building site before work begins, in terms of deadlines, cycle times, the use of equipment and costs. With conventional concrete, the maximum possible joint-free surface area is 25m². Extensia enables the construction of surface areas of up to 400m² without joints, thus limiting the problem of cracks and their consequent maintenance costs. Extensia was specially designed for concrete flooring applications, by nature subject to heavy traffic and storage loads, and it offers increased resistance compared with conventional concrete and better performance in terms of abrasion, flexion and traction. This allows a reduction in slab thickness compared to conventional concrete. With a lower quantity of raw materials employed and no need for steel mesh or steel fibers, Extensia makes it possible to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the production of concrete flooring. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Construction News :: home page |